ECMO Specialist, Perfusion Services, First Shift

ECMO Specialist, First Shift, Perfusion Services Department 

UC Health is hiring a full-time ECMO Specialist for the perfusion services department for first shift at University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

The Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Specialist is responsible for all aspects of monitoring and troubleshooting of the ECMO circuit and related equipment during the treatment period. The ECMO Specialist is also responsible for collaborating with bedside RNs, physicians, and other members of the health care team to coordinate care for these very complex patients.

About University of Cincinnati Medical Center

As part of the Clifton Campus of UC Health, Greater Cincinnati’s academic health system, University of Cincinnati Medical Center has served Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky for nearly 200 years. Each year, hundreds of thousands of patients receive care from our world-renowned clinicians and care team. Our experts utilize the most advanced medical knowledge and technology available, providing a level of specialty and subspecialty medical care that is not available anywhere else in Greater Cincinnati.

UC Medical Center is also home to medical breakthroughs- our physician experts conduct basic, translational and clinical research, leading to new therapies and care protocols, and connecting patients to the latest and most advanced treatments. UC Medical Center houses Greater Cincinnati’s only Level I adult trauma center, which includes the right mix of specialist and medical resources available at a moment’s notice for a wide variety of the most complex medical conditions and injuries.

Job Responsibilities 

• Assess, collaborate, plan, and implement the daily ECMO plan of care with the interdisciplinary care team.
• Provide patient centered, specialized, evidence based care to the ECMO patient Demonstrate strong critical thinking skills by making appropriate clinical decisions.
• Rapidly prioritize both planned and unplanned events, and proactively addresses actual and potential problems.
• Demonstrate the ability to prevent as well as manage risks.
• Monitor pump function throughout patient therapy while maintaining pump and circuit integrity
• Monitor circuit volume and administer products, medications, and/or volume as directed Monitor anticoagulation, electrolyte acid-base balance, and blood gas composition and adjust ECMO circuit as directed.
• Recommend appropriate changes to current patient management based on new information or changing patient status.
• Assist with logistics of cannulation and de-cannulation of patients on ECMO.
• Generate and compile appropriate documentation and charges related to ECMO Manage planned and emergent disruption of ECMO; replace circuit components under normal and emergent conditions.
• On-Call rotation for 24 hour periods
• Utilize EPOC for blood gas management.
• Utilize Hemocue for hemoglobin management.
• Utilize Hemochron Jr. for activated clotting time (ACT) and international normalized ratio (INR) management.
• Interpret results and make recommendations to the interdisciplinary care team.
• Operate, maintain, calibrate and perform quality control testing on all point of care laboratory equipment as per UCMC Laboratory's protocols and CLIA requirements.
• Skilled in all aspects of in-house transportation.
• Skilled in all aspects of hospital to hospital transportation as needed.
• Replenish case carts after each use.
• Continuously monitor disposable and non-disposable supply levels; inform appropriate personnel of items that need to be ordered.
• Monitor and order medications as needed.
• Monitor and replenish point of care supplies.
• Continuously monitor equipment for signs of faulty performance.
• Inform the appropriate personnel of items that need to be serviced.
• Perform routine cleaning of heater-coolers as required.
• Remain current and in good standing with all UCMC My Knowledge requirements.
• Remain current and in good standing with all departmental competencies.
• Remain current and in good standing with BLS certification.
• Remain current and in good standing with all other required documentation related to the ECMO Specialist role.
• Assist ECMO Coordinator with education, training, and simulation training.
• Perform blood conservation techniques.
• Set-up of disposables for cell saver machines.
• Proper use of cell saver machines during procedures.
• Proper clean-up and disposal of equipment.

Education and Experience Requirements: 

• Minimum Required: Associate's Degree - Respiratory Therapy
• Current Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider certification required
• Registered Respiratory Therapist