
SAMPLE LETTER TO LEGISLATORS
Dear <insert name of Legislator>,
My name is <insert name>, C.C.P. The initials after my name stand for
Certified Clinical Perfusionist. This title is one I wish to make you
aware of because I believe you will be hearing more about it from your
colleagues in the near future. I am a perfusionist at <insert
institution and location> where over <insert number> surgical
procedures a year are performed requiring the use of the heart-lung machine.
The primary role of a perfusionist in these surgical procedures is the operation
of the heart-lung machine. The perfusionist becomes the heart
and lungs for the patient while the surgeons and the surgical team perform their
healing task. During the course of this operation, while
the patient’s life is maintained by the heart-lung machine, the perfusionist
monitors the patients oxygen status and is responsible for
maintaining the patient’s total body blood flow. The perfusionist also
administers medications, anesthetic agents and when necessary blood and
blood products. Other professionals who use these drugs, agents and blood
products are required by Pennsylvania law to be licensed. The
Pennsylvania State Perfusion Society is advocating for the licensing of
certified clinical perfusionists in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Clinical perfusionists who have been certified by the American Board of
Cardiovascular Perfusion have proven, through education and examination,
a level of knowledge and clinical ability that separates them from other
licensed professionals such as Respiratory Therapists, Registered Nurses
and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists. The residents of Pennsylvania are
entitled to qualified, competent health care. State
licensing will ensure that minimum standards for education and training in areas
such as anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, perfusion
safety techniques and biomedical engineering are achieved by all perfusion
practitioners. This is the only way to ensure that all
patients undergoing open heart surgery in the state get an educated, trained and
qualified professional to operate their heart-lung machine.
I hope you will consider lending your support to the perfusionist licensure
bill. I would be more than happy to answer any questions you
might have concerning my profession. Thank you very much for your time
and consideration.
Sincerely,
<insert name>, C.C.P.