Perioperative Autotransfusion Technician

VA Medical Center, Gainesville, Florida

@Orchard LLC is responding to a proposal to staff a team of Perioperative Autotransfusion Technicians in providing critical care to our nation's Veterans. The Autotransfusion Technician (Cell Saver Tech) plays a vital role in patient blood management by operating intraoperative blood salvage equipment. This individual is responsible for the collection, filtration, and processing of a patient’s own blood during surgical procedures to be safely reinfused. This role is essential in reducing the hospital’s reliance on allogeneic (donor) blood and improving patient outcomes in high-complexity cases.

Key Responsibilities

• Clinical Operations: Assemble, prime, and operate autotransfusion machinery (e.g., Haemonetics, Medtronic) during cardiac, orthopedic, vascular, and trauma surgeries.
• Blood Processing: Monitor the sequestration and washing of red blood cells; ensure the removal of debris, fat, and anticoagulant before reinfusion.
• Technical Support: Perform routine troubleshooting and preventative maintenance on blood-salvage equipment.
• Quality Control: Conduct point-of-care testing, including hematocrit and ACT (Activated Clotting Time) measurements, to ensure processed blood quality.
• Documentation: Accurately record all volumes of blood collected, washed, and returned in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) or paper logs.
• Collaboration: Communicate effectively with Surgeons, Anesthesiologists, and Nurses regarding the status of the patient’s blood salvage.
• Sterile Technique: Maintain an uncompromising sterile field when handling surgical suction and processing components.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Associate Degree in health-related science or equivalent clinical experience as a Medical Technician.
• Certification: Must hold a certification in Autotransfusion and have maintained all continuing education to maintain the validity of the certification.
• Experience: 10 years of experience in an Operating Room or Acute Care environment preferred.
• Life Support: Valid BLS (Basic Life Support) certification through the American Heart Association.
• Technical Skills: Deep familiarity with centrifugal cell salvage systems and blood coagulation principles.
• Physical Requirements: Ability to stand for long periods and lift equipment to 50 lbs.

This is a full-time salaried opportunity with benefits. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. As this is a proposal, you will initially receive a contingent offer of employment; all final hiring decisions will be at the discretion of the Medical Center Director or designee.

Established in 2010, @Orchard LLC has an exceptional reputation, providing staffing solutions to time-sensitive, talent scarcity issues to deliver better talent management ROI.  Our specialty lies in the critical area of program talent acquisition and resource management, not in one narrow skillset, but across many areas of technical and functional delivery. To learn more about our other exciting opportunities, visit our Jobs Page at www.atOrchard.com.