Summary This Clinical Perfusionist (CP) is under the Surgical/Cardiac Service of Memphis VA Medical Center. The incumbent will be a skilled CP, able to operate extracorporeal circulation equipment during any medical situation where it is necessary to support or replace the patient's cardiopulmonary/circulatory function and ensures the proper management of physiologic functions by monitoring the necessary variables. This is an open continuous vacancy announcement, closes 9/30/2024, 11:59pm EST. Responsibilities The duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Assess, plan and evaluate the clinical perfusion program to ensure proper coordination of care. Oversee all aspects of perfusion documentation for the clinical perfusion department. Evaluate the delivery system of patient care within the area of assignment, present finding and recommendations, and contribute to changes that enhance the quality and timeliness of care. Provide clinical oversight and consultation for lower graded perfusionists and medical center staff within the CP's scope of practice and its potential applications in other medical, surgical and specialty areas. Create, implement, update and maintain all perfusion related documents and databases. Implement and manage the proper storage of perfusion related documents according to established guidelines, requirements and protocols. Instruct perfusionists, students and other facilities on perfusion related subject matter, provides educational opportunities and services as an educational resource. Develop, implement, execute and coordinate education programs to provide the appropriate resources to meet the training needs of staff. Perform clinical teaching, didactic teaching and provide recurring in-service training to ensure the competency of staff. Support evidence-based and goal directed practice with the overall goal of improving clinical practice. Develop and maintain a system of internal reviews, direct quality control, and performance improvement studies. Perform cardiopulmonary bypass as directed by the cardiac surgeons. Provide heparin management for endovascular cases. Monitor patient care in the SICU/PACU until sign-off. Provide emergency circulatory support for code and ER patients. Provide perfusion back up coverage for a busy diagnostics and therapeutic two room cardiac catheterization lab. Will provide emergency on-call coverage as specified for emergency open-heart perfusion, auto-transfusion, LVAD, RVAD and BiVAD patients. Provide 24/7 coverage in the SICU when a patient is on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday - 7:30 am - 4:00 pm, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, and have on-call schedule Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: GS-12: FS#2079A Clinical Perfusionist GS-0601-12. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications Basic Requirements United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: Candidates must hold a degree in perfusion as described below in paragraphs (1) and (2) that has been accredited by either CAAHEP or EQualTM Canada at the time the program was completed. (1) Bachelor's or master's degree in perfusion from a program in the United States or Canada accredited by the CAAHEP or EQualTM Canada. OR, (2) Bachelor's or master's degree in addition to a post-baccalaureate certificate in perfusion from a program accredited by CAAHEP or the EQualTM Canada. NOTE: The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Board Certification: Persons hired or reassigned to CP positions in VHA must be board-certified in the field of clinical perfusion as a Certified Clinical Perfusionist by the ABCP. The board certification must be current, and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirements for continuing education. Licensure: None required, but a license or license eligibility or State required credential is strongly preferred. Grandfathering: May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Clinical Perfusionist, GS-12 Experience, Certification, & Education: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of CP experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) and have obtained their ABCP certification as a CCP. License is preferred, but not required. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: practice independently, seeking guidance when necessary, have the qualifications to exhibit exceptional clinical skills and consistently demonstrate a high-level of expertise in diagnosing and treating seriously ill, multi-symptomatic patients. CPs at this level demonstrate a comprehensive, professional understanding of perfusion clinical practice and the proper application of perfusion techniques, while exhibiting the qualifications to perform more complex procedures requiring skills and competency beyond that expected in the previous grade. CPs at this level have extensive working knowledge of extracorporeal technology. At this level, CPs work collaboratively with physicians in the care of patients by autonomously managing and conducting cardiopulmonary bypass to provide complete life support during any medical situation where it is necessary to support the patient's cardiopulmonary function. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: In addition to the experience above, must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Ability to apply the principles of program management and oversight required to develop program goals and objectives, administer and monitor programs, evaluate program outcomes/accomplishments, set and redefine priorities and implement effective solutions as needed to present findings and recommendations to the appropriate management officials. Ability to provide oversight, judgement and management of the application of clinical perfusion to patient care, organization processes and/or systems and long/short range goals, with a focus on delivering patient care and achieving program outcomes. Expert level of knowledge of best practice in the perfusion profession. Ability to validate or identify barriers to safe effective care, and manage all aspects of clinical perfusion, technical, fiscal, and administrative including daily assignments and call schedule preparation. Ability to serve as a liaison, interfacing with other departments to incorporate the expertise of all disciplines in a comprehensive, integrated approach to patient care. Ability to develop, coordinate, review organizations and accrediting agencies, and manage a perfusion regulatory program including follow-up actions to ensure departmental compliance with regulatory agencies as required. Preferred Experience: 2 or more years of CP experience and certified as a Licensed Clinical Perfusionist. Physical Requirements: Eligible applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others. Depending on the essential duties of a specific position, usable vision, color vision, hearing, or speech may be required. However, in most cases, a specific physical condition or impairment will not automatically disqualify an applicant for appointment. The loss or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid. This position requires some physical exertion such as walking, bending, positioning patients, stretching, reaching, pushing, and lifting moderately heavy objects (15 to 44 pounds). Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.