Which competencies are necessary for clinical perfusion in Germany? Interviews with perfusionists

The professional education of cardiovascular perfusionists in Germany and the expertise required for successful practice have not often been studied. Here, the necessary skills for clinical cardiovascular perfusion-ists are described.

The prerequisites for the practice of the profession, expected future developments and the question of the positioning of a future professional perfusionist training within the educational system were discussed with ten experienced perfusionists. These individuals were interviewed in a semi-standardized fashion following an interview manual and the interviews were evaluated using qualitative research methods.

The professional skills currently required of per-fusionists correspond to the list of activities published by the German Society of Cardiovascular Enginering. New areas are knowledge of management and, increasingly, social competence and self-management skills. Future tasks for perfusionists will be more diversified than at present.

Training for perfusionists should be made broader than it is today. The current restructuring taking place in the profession makes interdisciplinary orientation and increased emphasis on practical training necessary. Academic level education is both feasible and desirable.