- Home
- Perfusionist
Who is a Perfusionist?
A good perfusionist treats the disease, the great perfusionist treats the patient who has a disease ~ William Osler
A perfusionist, also known as a clinical perfusion scientist. He or she is a healthcare professional responsible for operating the cardiopulmonary bypass machine during cardiac surgery and other such surgeries that require a cardiopulmonary bypass to manage the patient’s physiological status. A perfusion career provides you with the opportunity to be a member of a cardiovascular surgical team. In this role, you will help them in maintaining the blood flow to the body’s tissues and also regulate the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.
A perfusionist is required to handle a number of responsibilities while coordinating with the team members which includes cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists, and residents. A career as a perfusionist comes with responsibilities for conducting the extracorporeal circulation as well as he or she ensures the management of physiologic functions by monitoring the necessary variables. In this article, we will discuss the role of a perfusionist, the perfusionist salary, perfusionist jobs in India, and how to become a perfusionist.
Perfusionist in a Nutshell
A perfusionist is a highly skilled professional and a critical member of the heart surgical team. Perfusionist's jobs include working in cardiovascular surgery, but they also participate in blood conservation. He or she is also required to provide long-term support for respiratory failure, help in the treatment of cancerous tumours, and organ transplants. A career as a perfusionist comes with duties in rotational shifts. A perfusionist works in a hospital setting on a rotating schedule and remains on call for emergency situations. If you want to know how to become a perfusionist in India, then read the entire article.
Quick Facts for Perfusionist
-
Industry
Healthcare
-
Average Salary in India
₹36500
-
Suitable for
Male, Female
Anyone can choose to become a perfusionist. The profession is gender-neutral. Anyone with the perfect training to operate heart-lung machines during heart-open surgery can opt for a career as Perfusionist.
-
Any special needs
No
A career as a perfusionist requires the person to be detail-oriented and considerate because operating on a person’s body is a matter of extreme patience and seriousness. Hence, people who are physically well can only perform the duties and responsibilities of a perfusionist.
Table of Contents for Perfusionist
What is the role of Perfusionist?
A career as a perfusionist comes with a variety of responsibilities such as operating the heart-lung machine, which is an artificial blood pump that launches oxygenated blood to the patient’s tissues while the surgeon operates on the heart. Perfusionist jobs include managing the physiological and metabolic demands of the patient while the cardiac surgeon operates on the heart. A Perfusionist career requires to have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the equipment available for the use of extracorporeal circulation function and are responsible for the consultation of the surgeon for selecting the accurate equipment and techniques to be used.
Management
The Perfusionist includes managing various things such as ensuring the perfusion-related services are provided within the hospital at all times. He or she is responsible for the smooth, efficient, and cost-effective running of the perfusion running. A Perfusionist is also required to maximize flexibility, teamwork, and innovative working practices. The role of a perfusionist includes ensuring that efficient use of perfusion resources are applied.
Supervision
The perfusionists are required to ensure that the needs of the patient are placed at the centre of care delivery. They are also required to make sure that there are systems in place that imply the provision of care takes place in a suitable and safe environment. Perfusionist jobs include ensuring the proper working of the equipment to be used in cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary operations.
Staff management
The role of a perfusionist includes working in partnership with the support staff to ensure that care, treatment, and service needs are met. They are also required to ensure that the operating team comes up with the most effective and standard approach to the delivery of excellent service.
Maintenance work
The perfusionists act as clinical experts within the hospital, which includes the dissemination of specialist skills and knowledge to all disciplines within the hospital. They are also required to deal with carers and direct patient contact, in difficult and stressful situations. Perfusionist work includes maintaining and promoting effective communication within all the members of the multidisciplinary team and all hospital departments.
Research work
In certain situations, when required, the perfusionists are required to undertake a local audit and research, ensuring the findings are disseminated appropriately and recommendations are implemented. They also support departmental research as required and utilize the information to ensure the clinical practice is research-based. Perfusionist work includes planning and obtaining ethical approval whenever necessary.
Equipment use
The role of a perfusionist includes operating the cardiopulmonary bypass machine during cardiac surgery and other such surgeries that require a cardiopulmonary bypass to manage the patient’s physiological status. The perfusionist conducts the extracorporeal circulation as well as they are responsible for ensuring the management of physiologic functions by monitoring the necessary variables.
Types of a Perfusionist
In this section, we will be discussing the various types of a perfusionist or perfutonist career options.
Radiology Technicians: Radiology Technicians are professionals who work as an assistant to radiologists and help them in diagnosing and treating patients using diagnostic imaging examinations like X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans. They also prepare patients and equipment for radiology procedures, perform tests, and maintain the equipment is also one of their job duties.
Registered Nurse: Registered nurses are professionals who work in hospitals, physician’s offices, and home healthcare services. Their job duties include providing patient care, coordinating, and educating patients and the public about various healthcare conditions.
Cytotechnologists: Cytotechnologists are professionals who study cells and cellular anomalies. They use microscopes to examine slides of human cells for any abnormalities regarding cells. Their job is to prepare and analyze samples, such as Papanicolaou (PAP) smear body fluids and fine needle aspirants (FNAs), to detect abnormal conditions.
Respiratory Therapist: Respiratory therapist is a medical professional who provides healthcare for the lungs. Respiratory therapists have advanced knowledge of high-tech equipment, such as mechanical ventilation.
What is the workplace/work environment of Perfusionist like?
Perfusionists are required to work in operating rooms in hospitals and surgical centres during heart and lung surgery, and they also work in ICUs. A career as a Perfusionist comes with teamwork. Before beginning the surgery, the perfusionist and the surgeon determine which operational equipment and techniques are to be used. This section contains in-depth details about the work environment of the perfusionist. If you want to know how to become a perfusionist, then read the entire article.
Does Perfusionist require travelling?
Not Likely
A career as a perfusionist requires little or no travelling. Since, Perfusionists are required to perform work responsibilities in one healthcare area and hence, generally spend 90 per cent of their time in the OR suite for cardiac cases. In other cases, they find their responsibilities extending to areas such as the cardiovascular intensive care unit (CIVIC) and catheterisation laboratory.
Employment Shifts
Full Time, Part Time
Depending on the requirement or the demand, a career as a perfusionist may provide full-time or part-time employment opportunities. However, in most cases, a perfusionist is hired on a full-time basis.
Employment Nature
Permanent
Perfusionists are hired by employers on a permanent basis. Hence, the nature of work for a career as a perfusionist is permanent. Medical centres or third-party perfusion companies hire these professionals for a permanent roles.
Work Place
hospitals
Perfusionists are mainly required to work in operating rooms in hospitals and surgical centres during heart and lung surgery, along with this, they also work in ICUs.
Presence in Geographical Area
Semi-urban, Urban
Tier-1 cities such as New Delhi, Gurgaon, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Pune are big hubs for world-class healthcare treatments. Such metropolitan cities provide alluring opportunities for a career as Perfusionist. Perfusionists in Chennai, Tamil Nadu earn an average of 10.6 per cent more than the national average.
Time Pressure
Likely
Time pressure is high in the career as Perfusionist. Typically, a perfusionist works a regular 40-hour per week, but they also might be required to be present on call on some nights, weekends, and holidays. Depending on the operation, call responsibilities can get rigorous. In certain facilities that perform a large number of cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary surgeries, perfusionists may work in shifts to ensure that a trained perfusionist is available 24 hours a day.
Overtime Details
A career as a perfusionist comes with varying working hours as he or she must answer the call of surgical and medical emergencies when needed. Many perfusionists are also required to assist in philanthropic cardiac surgery missions. They might work overtime if the surgery stretches to be too long.
Weekly Hours of Work
Min 45 Hours
Usually, a career as a perfusionist comes with a regular schedule of working eight hours per day starting from 9 AM to 6 PM. However, depending on the requirements and the surgery schedules, the perfusionists might be required to work extra hours
How to become a Perfusionist?
Steps to become a Perfusionist
If you are interested in studying heart and lungs and their surgeries and want to opt for a career in the same field then a career as Perfusionist is the best option. We have mentioned below some of the steps for how to become a Perfusionist in India.
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Perfusionist?
Are you looking for how to become a cardiovascular perfusionist? want to know how to become a perfusionist, then you are at the right place. In this section, we will be discussing the skills required to be a perfusionist.
Patience: Perfusionists face critical situations where they are required to stay calm and make decisions that might be an important factor in a patient’s future. The perfusionists are one of the most essential members of the surgery team. The work they do helps in keeping critically ill and medically unstable people alive. Situations like these required them to stay calm and level-headed. If you are wondering how to become a perfusionist in India, then you should focus on these particular skills.
Physical Strength: In order to have superior stamina and mental focus, perfusionists are required to stay fit and keep themselves healthy. Their profession requires them to stay alert during operations that could last as long as 6-8 hours or more which is not possible without mental stamina and irresistible focus.
Communication Skills: The ability to communicate effectively is one of the most necessary skills required by perfusionists in order to perform their job duties. The team working for an operation must be closely knitted which can be achieved through strong communication, communicating effectively becomes important in a high-stake team environment.
Science Skills: Nothing can be achieved without a deep understanding and interest in the subject. In order to become a perfusionist along with excelling in the career, it is important for the candidates to have a deep interest in science and technology. A good academic background is a non-negotiable requirement in the profession that can be achieved through knowledge and a deep interest in science and technology.
Attention to Detail: Perfusionists are required to make important decisions during operations. Hence, they are required to pay meticulous attention to detail to produce highly accurate work even when under pressure. Paying attention to small details is essential during the operation.
Critical Skills: Management of cardiovascular operations requires sharp critical thinking skills which involve using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. Hence, perfusionists are required to exhibit strong critical thinking and analytical skills which can be used in tough situations.
Learning Skills: Learning skills are one of the important skills required to become a perfusionist they involve learning tasks like conducting tests and inspections of equipment, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance, adjusting actions in relation to others actions, determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job, controlling operations of equipment or systems, and selecting and using training or instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Popular Online Medicine Courses and Certifications
Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming Perfusionist?
Those interested in pursuing a perfusionist career in India can do the following certification in order to hone their skills. If you want to know how to become a perfusionist, then read the entire article.
Drug and Medical Device Development: A Strategic Approach - Online Program | |
Nanotechnology for Health: Innovative Designs for Medical Diagnosis | |
Internship Availability
Internships are a great way to learn and develop technical expertise in the industry and have a comprehensive understanding of all the factors responsible for cardiac surgery. In order to get these internships, students are required to follow the eligibility criteria specified by each health organization. Students with excellent medical records and practical understanding are the first choice of healthcare organizations. Also, students in their final year of study programme are eligible for the internship.
Students learn various industrial critics and operations performed in the medical houses outside the surgery room. They are introduced to various technical and critical equipment with relevance to their applications in cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary surgery.
Also read: Career as an operation theatre technician
Career Path Progression for Perfusionist
Junior Perfusionist: A Junior Perfusionist is a professional who is responsible for who operates the heart-lung machine, during an open-heart surgery or any other medical procedure where patient's are given artificial support for respiratory function. A Junior Perfusionist works under the supervision of the Senior Perfuntionists.
Senior Perfusionist: A Senior Perfusionist is an experienced professional who is responsible for highly trained and experienced work with patients in the operating room with cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists, physician assistants, and surgical technologists. A Senior Perfuntionist selects various operating systems or equipment for surgeries.
Perfusionist Jobs and Salaries
Junior Perfusionist
- Average Salary 30000
Job Description
The Junior Perfusionist job description includes operating a cardiopulmonary bypass machine during cardiac surgery as well as other surgeries. A Junior Perfusionist helps to maintain the blood flow to the body's tissues and manages the physiological and metabolic demands of the patient during the heart surgery.
Salary Description
An entry-level Perfusionist salary in India ranges between Rs 0.3 Lakhs to Rs 7.4 Lakhs with an average annual salary of Rs 4.0 Lakhs per annum. Junior Perfusionist salary in India may vary depending on the various job factors like skills and experience of the candidates, job location, and others.
Salary Source: AmbitionBox
Senior Perfusionist
- Average Salary 43000
Job Description
The Senior Perfusionist job description includes analyses of hemodynamic and blood chemistry test results, selects the equipment for surgery, and research and development of new equipment and techniques. A Senior Perfutionist ensures the quality assurance and repairs minor equipment-related issues.
Salary Description
The estimated Perfusionist salary in India ranges from Rs 2.0 Lakhs to Rs 8.4 Lakhs with an average annual salary of Rs 5.1 Lakhs per annum. Senior Perfusionist salary may vary depending on the various job factors.
Salary Source: AmbitionBox
What is the job outlook for Perfusionist?
Cardiovascular disease is most prone in aged people, so more patients are required to be treated with open-heart surgery. Perfusion is also being gradually incorporated into more types of surgeries which involve the correction of congenital heart defects, treatment of heart disease, chemotherapy treatments and emergency trauma cases. With each and every medical organization, comes the big medical staff which is the topmost requirement of these medical firms. Studying these factors, it would not be wrong to say that the job market scenario for a career as a Perfusionist is quite excelling and is expected to increase exponentially in the coming years.
In the future, surgical technology professionals are expected to experience a 15 per cent job growth between 2014-2024, and cardiovascular technology professionals are expected to experience 22 per cent job growth between 2014-2024. Both of these rates are much faster than average job growth. Demand for perfusionists exists due to the ageing Indian population, who are prone to experience high rates of cardiovascular diseases and may increase the future volume of cardiac surgeries, which results in an exponential increase in the need for perfusionists.
Student Also Liked:
Frequently Asked Questions for Perfusionist
Que. What is the annual salary of bsc perfusionist and bsc Optometry
Ans.Hello aspirant,
The average income for a mid-career perfusionist with 4–9 years of experience is 4.5 lakhs annually, while the average salary for an experienced perfusionist with 10–20 years of experience is 7.8 lakhs annually.
The salary range for a BSC optometrist in India is 0.1 Lakhs to 5.2 Lakhs, with an average of 2.2 Lakhs per year .
But these are not the exact limit. The salaries of an individual varies on the basis of their skills.
Thank you
Hope this information helps you.
Que. What is a perfusionist salary?
Ans.For an entry-level perfusionist, with less than one year of experience, the average total pay is somewhere between Rs. 3.5 lakh per annum which includes bonuses, tips, and overtime pay. After gaining experience for two to three years, the average salary for perfusionists goes as high as Rs. 5 lakhs per annum. The highest pay for an experienced perfusionist with six to eight years of experience is Rs. eight lakhs per annum.
Que. What does a perfusionists do?
Ans.A perfusionist performs a variety of jobs such as operating the heart-lung machine, which is an artificial blood pump that launches oxygenated blood to the patient’s tissues while the surgeon operates on the heart. The perfusionists are responsible for managing the physiological and metabolic demands of the patient while the cardiac surgeon operates on the heart.
Que. What are the various perfusion technology courses?
Ans.The various perfusion technology courses are B.Sc. Perfusion Technology, B.Sc in Cardio Pulmonary Perfusion Care Technology, P.G. Diploma in Cardiac Pulmonary Perfusion Technology, Diploma in Perfusion Cardiac Surgery Technician, Post Graduate Diploma in Perfusion Technology, Diploma in Perfusion Technology.
Que. What are the Perfusion Colleges in India?
Ans.The Perfusion Colleges in India are Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Srinivas University, Mangalore, West Bengal University of Health Sciences, Kolkata, JSS Medical College, Mysore, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research, Chennai.
Que. What is a Perfusionist?
Ans.A perfusionist is a clinical perfusion scientist who operates the cardiopulmonary bypass machine during cardiac surgery and other such surgeries. He or she helps to maintain the flow of blood to the body's tissues.
Que. How long does it take to become a cardiovascular perfusionist?
Ans.To become a cardiovascular perfusionist it will minimum take four to six years depending on the course you are selecting. You are required to pursue a bachelor's and master's degree and internship.
You might also be interested in
Questions related to Perfusionist
What is the annual salary of bsc perfusionist and bsc Optometry
Hello aspirant,
In India, the salary range for entry-level perfusion technicians could be anything from INR 2,50,000 to INR 5,00,000 annually.
In India, the typical salary range for a BSC optometrist is between 5 and 8 lakh.
The one point needs to be kept in mind is that it is the average salary and actual salary may vary from it as it depends on various factors.
Thank you
Hope this information helps you.
Answer latercardiac perfusionist job demand in jaipur and avarafe salary
Hey aspirant, I hope this information is helpful.. The average salary in Jaipur, Rajasthan is 359k. Trends in wages decreased by -100.0 percent in 2021. The cost of living in Jaipur, Rajasthan is Nine percent lower than the national average.
Good luck
can i do phd in cardiac perfusionist technology in kashmir name of the collages in jammu and kashmir who offer phd in this course
There is no college in Jammu and Kashmir who offers Ph.D in cardiac perfusionist technology.
For more details you can go through the below link:-
https://www.careers360.com/university/sher-i-kashmir-institute-of-medical-sciences-srinagar/courses/phd-idpg
Fee structure of bsc perfusionist in skims
Hello aspirant,
Hope you are doing great. The total fee for BSc in Cardiac Pulmonary Perfusion Technology in SKIMS is INR 1.11 lakhs per annum. It is a under graduate course for a period of three years. SKIMS, Srinagar is a state university. You should have passed your 10 + 2 in science stream, to be eligible for the course. Check the link for more information:
Hope this helps you,
Good luck, thank you :)
what is a veterinarian course ? how much option I get to complete this cource ?
There will be various types of doctors you will find in the world. One such doctor is called veterinarian aur or Veterinary Surgeon. This type of doctors treat animals and do research about their diseases. There are various types of veterinary course available which you can do after 12th class. These courses are of different duration. I mentioned below the name of these courses along with their duration:
- Bachelor of veterinary Science and animal husbandry 5 years
- Bachelor of veterinary Science animal nutrition 3 years
- Bachelor of veterinary Science veterinary pathology 3 years
- Bachelor of veterinary Science and animal genetics and breeding 3 years.
- Bachelor of veterinary Science general 3 years
- Bachelor of veterinary Science Veterinary Microbiology
Read More about Veterinary Doctor by clicking on mentioned below link:
Select your reason of reporting
Explore Related Careers
Did you know?
Fact 1
Silicone reinforced membranes are introduced into membrane oxygenators to further reduce trauma to the blood.
Fact 2
Perfusion systems based on the Lillehei/Dewall bubble oxygenator concept dominate the field.
Fact 3
James Kirklin and Stephen Westaby show that when blood comes into contact with certain materials during perfusion, a whole-body inflammatory reaction can result.
Fact 4
By the early 1990s, microporous membrane oxygenators have replaced disc and bubble oxygenators, primarily due to their ability to permit blood-gas exchange through a membrane.
Fact 5
The first Perfusion experiment was conducted in the year 1828.
