Louisiana Revised Statutes Tit. 51, § 916. Perfusion equipment and supplies

(3)(a) “Perfusionist” or “clinical perfusionist” means a skilled person, qualified by academic and clinical education, who operates extracorporeal circulation equipment during any medical situation where it is necessary to support or temporarily replace a patient's circulatory or respiratory function. A perfusionist is knowledgeable concerning the variety of equipment available to perform such extracorporeal circulation functions.

(b) The perfusionist is educated to conduct extracorporeal circulation and to ensure the safe management of physiologic functions by monitoring and adjusting the necessary variables. The perfusionist is trained, educated, or both, in the administration of blood products, blood conservation techniques, autotransfusion, anesthetic agents, and drugs through the extracorporeal circuit. Such administration is performed according to a prescription, to approved protocol, or both. A perfusionist is knowledgeable and competent in the use of a variety of techniques such as: hypothermia and hemodilution, perfusion procedures involving specialized equipment, and advanced life support techniques.

(3)(a) It shall be unlawful for an individual or business entity which contracts with a hospital or other medical institution for the provision of clinical perfusion services to receive compensation from the sale or use of products or equipment used in the performance of clinical perfusion services to such medical institution.

(b) It shall be unlawful for a business entity which sells products or equipment used in the performance of clinical perfusion services to a hospital or other medical institution to perform perfusion services at that medical institution.