European Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion
Austria
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Österreichische
Gesellschaft für Kardiotechnik (ÖGKT)
Austrian Society of Cardiovascular Perfusion |
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History
Cardiac
surgery in Austria began in 1962 with 2 centers and 2 perfusionists. In 1987
the Austrian society of cardiovascular perfusion Österreichische
Gesellschaft für Kardiotechnik (ÖGKT) was established with the goal of
recognizing the profession, provide training and continuing education, and set a
standard of care to include exchange of experience and knowledge both nationally
and internationally. During this time, 8 of the present day 9 cardiac centres,
were open with a total of 22 perfusionists. In 1992 a committee,
consisting of a perfusionist from each center worked together with an
institution affiliated with the ministry of health to plan the future education
of perfusionists. Subsequently, a perfusion advisory committee was formed to set
the standards for the education program, and govern the process of
certification. On the 16th of June 1998, eleven years after the ÖGKT was
founded, a federal law was issued by the Austrian parliament of Vienna with
reference to perfusion services and education. This law was enforced on the 1
st day of January, 1999
governing cardiovascular perfusion as a legal profession with the title of
certified perfusionist (Dipl.KT). The first certificates were issued in September 1999
under a grandfather clause to those candidates who had met the required
conditions and whos names were entered on an official perfusion list by the
ministry of health. Table
1 outlines the demographics of cardiac surgery in
Austria in the year 2000. This year, 2001, there are 38 certified
perfusionists and 4 students with the first student to take the certification
examination in August
2001. |
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Perfusion
Education Program:
The Austrian training program is a post-graduate degree program
accredited by the Government of Health. Applicants to the program must
hold a diploma in either: nursing with graduate training in anesthesia
and intensive care, radiology technologists, biomedical technologists,
or a similar diploma recognized in Austria. The total training time of
18 months is divided into 7 phases. Each phase has defined
objectives with a logbook to document competency and the completion of
objectives. Table 2 outlines the theoretical clinical phases.
The theoretical portion involves 800 hours of self-study in medical
specialities pertaining to the cardiovascular field. The clinical
training, with 2400 hours, includes both adult and pediatric perfusion
techniques along with support modalities and adjuncts to perfusion.
The student is required to complete 120 hours in other medical
specialities and 120 hours rotating through another accredited centre.
The ministry of health specifies which hospitals will be accepted as
training centres. In each training centre, a perfusionist is
officially designated as the clinical instructor; confirmed by the
medical director. The clinical instructor accompanies the student
throughout the entire training and is responsible for signing of the
logbook outlining the objectives in each phase. The examination
process consists of 2 oral exams and a written case study. The first
exam is at the 12 month interval involving a 3 member team (cardiac
surgeon, anesthesiologist, clinical instructor). The second and final
certification exam involves the advisory committee (representitive
from the ministry of health, 3 perfusionists, cardiac surgeon,
anesthesiologist, cardiologist). This exam is carried out at the
ministry of health after the candidate has contacted them in writing
and a time is registered. After successful completion of the exam, the
name of the candidate is entered on the perfusion list and at this
point he/she may then practice perfusion.
The future may involve an affiliation with a university or other
school of perfusion. |
Table 1:
Demographics of Cardiac Surgery in Austia in the year 2000.
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Cardiac
Centers |
Number
of
Cardiac cases
Adult/Pediatric |
Certified
Perfusionists
(Dipl. KT*) |
Students |
| 1 |
University
Clinic of Vienna |
1125
/160 |
6 |
1 |
| 2 |
Lainz
General Hospital |
870 |
5 |
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| 3 |
University
Clinic Graz |
694
/ 50 |
5 |
1 |
| 4 |
Klagenfurt
General Hospital |
430 |
3 |
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| 5 |
University
Clinic Innsbruck |
738
/ 41 |
5 |
1 |
| 6 |
Salzburg
General Hospital |
497 |
3 |
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| 7 |
Linz
General Hospital |
986
/ 160 |
5 |
1 |
| 8 |
Wels
General Hospital |
788 |
3 |
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9 |
St.Pölten
General Hospital |
609
/ 5 |
3 |
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Total |
6737
/ 416 |
38* |
4 |
*Dipl. KT =
Certified and Registered by the Austrian governement
Table 2: Study Curriculum
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Theoretical: |
Hours |
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Clinical: |
Hours |
| Perfusion
Technology |
320 |
Adult
(minium 160) |
2400 |
| Anatomy
/ Physiology |
60 |
pediatric
(minimum 10) |
| Pathophysiology |
50 |
On
Call shifts (minimum 15) |
| Pharmacology |
50 |
Assist
devices |
| Haematology |
40 |
ECMO |
| Cardiology |
30 |
Minimal
Invasive Technology |
| Surgical
techniques |
40 |
Emergency
training |
| Anaesthesiology |
25 |
Pacemaker |
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Intensive
Care |
25 |
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| Biomaterials |
60 |
Other
Rotations: |
120 |
| Documentation
/ Statistics |
20 |
Intensive
Care |
| Sterilisation,
Hygiene |
20 |
Anaesthesia |
| Biosignals
/ Measuring methods |
60 |
Labor |
| Total |
800 |
Catheterisation
Lab |
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Dialysis
Unit |
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Other
Cardiac Centre |
120 |
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Authors: Carole Hamilton, Andreas
Michalak
ÖGKT President: Ivaca Popovic, Vice President: Franz Maringer,
Secretary: Norbert Habenfelner, Treasurer: Alois Untersweg |
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