A few months ago I posted a summary of the results from the HEALTH CARE ADVISORY BOARD'S 2006 REPORT "THE FUTURE OF CARDIAC SURGERY". The HCAB is a prestigous organization that collects nationwide data from its member hospitals which comprise all the major academic centers as well as over 400 other hospitals across the nation. You can go on line at www.advisory.com to view the report if your hospital is a member. If not find a friend in a member hospital and have them obtain the report for you. The data and prediction was not positive for a secure future as a perfusionist. We who have been in the profession for some time have seen a significant decline in cases since 1999. This decline has been consistent and persistent. There are many reasons. Bottom line cardiology and medicine have many effective ways to treat CAD and surgery is becoming the last resort for select cases. Every time I post a new position, I receive over 60 applicants. From many new grads to the very experienced who have lost their positions due to loss of case loads. I would suggest you look into other healthcare fields such as a Cath Lab RCIS.

Although this post is old, I must agree that the future is questionable. There will definetly be room for SOME perfusionists, but not the number we have now. The baby boom wave may somewhat offset this trend, but it may take 10-20 years.

It seems that the only news that comes out about the profession of persusion is bad and it seems to get worse year after year.  The simple fact is that the perfusion job market is overly saturated with new grads and other out of work perfusionists who are willing to work for less and less.  All of this while open heart caseloads continue to decrease steadily and reliably year after year.  Perfusion groups are now having to struggle to expand their roles with other ancillary duties in order to justify their employment. 

I have to say that the past few years have been the best the market has been since about 1991.   Those first 5 years of 1991-96 were very lean for those fresh grads with many opportunities having 50-100 candidates.  It was an employers market.  I personally feel the opportunites are somewhat better but not by much.  I too have spoken to a few program directors who feel the need and voice that to their colleagues; however, being on the front line shows other realities.   I have seen over the years the same similar employers willing to capitalize on this bonanza to keep the salaries low, competition high and thus job satisfaction on the side of lacking(how can anyone realistically live a satisfying lifestyle in San Francisco or LA or Phoenix or Denver working for $50K/yr?).  Many, many people have been fortunate to stay with the same employer through the years but what of those prone to whims of cardiologists?  I dare say many of our colleagues have had to relocate for purposes of job security, job satisfaction, financial priorities and to improve the quality of life.  I believe that as long as we have those mega corporations that insist on paying bottom dollar to the unfortunate crowd then we are subject to the whims of what the market will bear.   College degrees are most welcome but not always the criteria by what clinicians can be judged by.   Good perfusionists can be found on both sides of the isle.  I believe that the surest path to better success is pursuing a multi-specialty trained individual-at least in our field.   I guess if you look at Anesthesiologists, Pharmacists, Physical Therapies you will find a great job market with very beneficial salaries(why?  because of supply and demand).   I don't necessarily think schools just pump out people but the market does not seem to bear out that great demand for more and more perfusionists. 

Emmanuel,