An Open Letter in Response to New AmSECT Perflist Policies

Note: Perflist is an online members-only message board open only to qualified members. By comparison, Trident Health Resources, Inc. sponsors Perfusioncommunity.com, also a message board which is open to all and includes messaging, calendar, news, job postings, & resume bank, chat and email functions and more.

Dear Colleagues:

I’d like to respond to several of the new policies or policy changes at AmSECT’s, Perflist and then ask for your feedback. Listed below are the Perflist policies that have been modified or added:


1. Perflist is for active perfusionists, perfusion students, life or retired AmSECT members, blood management technologists and perfusion assistants only.

This means that companies which serve the perfusionist industry are not allowed on Perflist. If you are a researcher, a hospital employee who is not actively a perfusionist, a support team member who works with a perfusionist, or perfusion vend/ manufacturer, among others, you cannot access the Perflist.

By comparison, at Perfusioncommunity.com, anyone who is interested in perfusion-related matters is welcome to peruse and join our site. Extra features are available to registrants, and the registration is without charge or qualification.

2. Anonymous posts on PerfList will not be accepted. It is required that you sign your posts, indicating your name and email address at minimum.

If you have something to say that is relevant or controversial or important and you want to say it without fear of repercussion, you can't say it anonymously on Perflist.

On Perfusioncommunity, you can speak freely. No industry is perfect and it is through open discussion that important issues are addressed. where outcomes could result for the benefit of all.

3. Advertising services, equipment, websites, blogs, virus warnings, non-perfusion-related items or off-topic email is prohibited on Perflist. Unless specific advance approval is granted by AmSECT administration, you may NOT post any such advertisements directly on Perflist.

Sometimes important news and information appears on another website. Our perfusionists would, at times, inform their colleagues about news found at “other” websites such as, Perfusioncommunity.com or Trident’s blog. No longer will such a posting of website links be approved on Perflist.

By comparison, Perfusioncommunity.com welcomes important notices and free use of our information forums. Perfusioncommunity.com is purposefully designed in consideration of the entire Perfusion Community and those who support the efforts.

4. Unless specific advance approval is granted by AmSECT administration, you may NOT post any meeting announcements directly on Perflist.

It’s important to know upcoming dates for events in the perfusion community. If you are holding a meeting and want to send out notices, you need to get advance approval or you won’t be able to post on Perflist.

You can post any important event on Perfusioncommunity.com. Perfusioncommunity.com keeps a calendar which includes both domestic perfusion events as well as international events, and includes many other events which aren’t listed at other websites.

5. Employment announcements directly related to the field of perfusion may be posted on the AmSECT website. Unless specific advance approval is granted by AmSECT administration, you may NOT post any employment announcements directly on Perflist.

This new policy is very interesting. Perflist was one of the places to go for perfusion job announcements. Now, getting jobs posted there has been prohibited in favor of AmSECT posting formal job openings on their website.

On Perfusioncommunity.com, by comparison, employer ads are posted AT NO CHARGE, regardless if you are a hospital or a contractor. Perfusioncommunity.com updates jobs daily and uses numerous daily feeds to get information regarding job openings. Perfusioncommunity.com also has a resume bank, which serves the perfusionist seeking a job and includes job matching services with employers.

In conclusion, where AmSECT is falling behind in addressing the needs and wants of perfusionists, Perfusioncommunity.com offers more. If you haven’t visited Perfusioncommunity.com yet, please do so today.

What do you think of Perflist Policy Changes?

And what would you like to see as a feature on your website, Perfusioncommunity.com?

We welcome your comments and feedback.

Ralph E. Jordan
CEO & President
Trident Health Resources, Inc.

Outplay, Outwit, Outlast

The following is an excerpt from Trident Health Resources, Inc.'s May E-Newsletter... A Message from the President On Trident's 21st Birthday...

May 2009 marks Trident Health Resources, Inc.'s Birthday
under the same ownership for 21 consecutive years.

Amid economic hard times, we're seeing icons of American companies we've known, trusted and built lifelong faith upon, now suffering with government bailouts or bankruptcies. It's daunting for any company --large or small-- to ascend in a fast-paced, demanding and highly global, technically advanced, 24/7 world of business. Even the best stumble sometimes. And it is within this spirit of humble acknowledgment of these times, that, as CEO and President of Trident Health Resources, Inc., I feel good to be A SURVIVOR in this political and economic environment. At the same time, I recognize that there are some things we actively do which contribute to our lasting success in this industry.

"Outplay" is a strategy and goal for Trident. To outplay is to demonstrate to our client hospitals that we can provide perfusion services on a long-term or locums basis in a way that outperforms the competition. Our approach to health care ensures a patient-first focus, and all the details of the business are organized around that philosophy. We have the history of 21 years and a long list of letters of recommendations which demonstrate our ability to outplay and outperform the competition. In consideration of these economic times, Trident will guarantee to beat any confirmed price quote for locums services and respond to the need within 24 hours. Call us when you find yourself in immediate need. For vacation relief, meetings, or sudden emergencies, REMEMBER: Trident will guarantee to beat any confirmed price quote for locums services and respond to the need within 24 hours.

"Outwit" is a strategy Trident takes within a competitive marketplace, understanding that each facility has different needs and wants. When we work with a new account, certain services are tailored in the best interests of the hospital and in full consideration of patient care. We are mobile and flexible and have a core team of certified perfusionists who are adaptable to new concepts. Because we are a company with long-term vision, we usually hire (employees) as opposed to utilizing independent contract perfusionists throughout the landscape of our national accounts. Our perfusionists have been with us year after year and are dedicated to our health care philosophy and business principles. Many other companies make things happen without a clear cut strategy in place; when things go wrong, they sometimes lack an orchestrated strategic plan for alternative solutions. We know this firsthand because many of our large hospital accounts once came to us when another perfusion company let them down. We just won't let that happen and we've put in place a great number of processes to guarantee quality and economic efficiencies.

"Outlast" is what Trident does, as evidenced by its 21 years of continuous existence and experience. Experience is the key to competency, and being consistent in this industry has been yet another approach to business which has helped us outlast the others. This field has seen new promising entrants, and some who stayed around awhile, left and came back under new ownership or merger, but through the years, Trident's name, ownership and core beliefs have stood the test of time.

As Trident celebrates its 21st birthday, consider us as your source for perfusion services based on our track record, performance and consistency for 21 years.
At Trident, you get your money's worth -- AND MORE!

View Trident's MAY ISSUE E-Newsletter by Clicking HERE

National Perfusionist Appreciation Week 2009

On behalf of the Trident Health Resources, Inc., I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to all perfusionist professionals who dedicate their time and skills in saving the lives of others by their commitment to a job that isn’t always easy or celebrated, but one behind the scenes and of tremendous importance. A tip of our Trident hat and waves of thunderous applause! The purpose of National Perfusion Appreciation week is to raise public awareness of the value of perfusionists and to educate the public about the important role these professionals play in helping to meet the health care needs of our citizens. Join me in honoring those who care for the heart patients with the greatest of efforts. Our appreciation for these professionals is present not just during this special week, but also at every opportunity throughout the year.

We contacted AmSect for a historical perspective of National Perfusionist Appreciation Week… how it started and how other parts of the country honor their own. We were initially disappointed to find little written on this event and very little known about it, other than it occurs each May and was established in 2000 by the organization.

A phone call was made and in follow up correspondence received today, we were provided the following from American Society of Extracorporeal Technology:

“For over 50 years, perfusionists have followed in the footsteps of John H. Gibbon, MD and his wife Mary Gibbon. The first experimental heart-lung machine, built by Dr. Gibbon in 1937, used two roller pumps. One of its first successful uses involved the capacity to replace the heart and lung functions of a cat.

Considered the inventor of the heart-lung machine, Dr. John Gibbon also performed the first successful human open heart procedure. On May 6, 1953, while a machine was utilized to maintain life while the surgery was performed, a hole inside a human heart was closed. While Dr. Gibbon prepared the 18-year-old patient, his wife, Mary Gibbon, prepared the heart-lung machine for operation. Mary Gibbon is therefore considered the first ‘perfusionist.’ The patient was connected to the heart-lung machine for 45 minutes. For 26 minutes the heart-lung machine completely supported all circulatory and respiratory functions.”

Also, with permission from AmSect, we are sharing the image of the poster that the organization gave this year to all its members in honor of National Perfusionist Appreciation Week 2009.

To recognize the fine work of Trident Health perfusionists, a company letter is being sent to each individual with heartfelt acknowledgment of the special characteristics of our group of people, which include:

• A number of Trident perfusionists have been with us since the inception of the company’s existence, 21 years. Long-term commitment to a job and one company speaks to the kind of services hospital facilities need and can rely on. Our long-timers make us very proud for the quality of experience we are able to give to our client accounts. Those who are new to the industry are embraced and mentored by our elder experienced perfusionists. The cohesion of our team is strengthened through this process and our new employees in recent years have made a remarkable difference.

• If things ever go wrong, from a processing glitch of paperwork, or a scramble to respond to an emergency need across the country, our perfusionists have demonstrated tremendous agility and flexibility to put priorities in place and tend to whatever is needed. We appreciate perfusionists who were there in times of need and when we’ve had to really jump through hoops quickly to solve a critical issue, simply amazed by the teamwork that emerges in crisis. This underscores a patient-focused care philosophy of our company.
  

• Trident offers opportunities to its employees for ongoing training and we appreciate the zest our people show in pursuing knowledge and staying abreast of new technologies, protocols and systems to be the best they can be. Whenever a Trident perfusionist attends a conference or training, we ask them to report in writing on their experience to share wisdom with other team members, and insodoing, we are able to all grow and learn continuously.

• Trident has several perfusionist positions which are part of our Elite Traveling Team. Our professionals have traveled to new locations, moved their families, and made major life changes in alliance with their work and the goals of the company. This is truly evidence of commitment and it is appreciated immensely.

• The rewards of being an employee-focused, patient-first company are great for us. We do not usually utilize the services of temporary, independent contractors. All perfusionists, for the most part, working for Trident are fully employed, eligible for benefits and the commitment runs both ways from us to them, and perfusionist to company. As such, there is a sense of union, of family, of belonging. We have long known that this makes a vast, positive difference in services we provide. We are grateful for the letters of accolades we have received over time reflecting the positive experiences reported by hospitals and also by our employees, who truly feel good about their working relationship with their employer, Trident.

During this week in May 2009, it is with great pride and a bit of sentimentality, that I post this note of appreciation.

Thank you all for a job well done.

Sincerely,

Ralph E. Jordan
CEO & President
Trident Health Resources, Inc.