ECMO Specialist

Overview

Provides clinical patient care assessment, initiation, modifications and weaning of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) also referred to as Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) to neonatal, pediatric and adult patient populations in collaboration with a licensed physician with expertise in ECMO.

Brown University Health employees are expected to role model the organization s values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence as these values guide daily actions with patients, customers and colleagues. In addition to values, employees are expected to demonstrate the core Success Factors:
Instill Trust and Value Differences;
Patient and Community Focus and Collaborate.

• Evaluates, assesses and performs prescribed clinical procedures and therapy by order of a licensed medical provider.
• Works under the general supervision of the ECMO Manager, Respiratory Clinical Supervisors and Managers of the Respiratory Care Dept.
• Analyzes and evaluates clinical patient data to determine appropriate therapy or intervention and offers recommendations on patient care to the medical staff.
• Modifies therapy based on patient physiology and response, applying knowledge of indications, contraindications and safe, effective use of hospital-approved pharmacological agents and blood products delivered through the ECMO system.
• May accept verbal orders from a physician, nurse practitioner and/or physician s assistant where appropriate.
• Assists the physician in the initiation of ECMO.
• Assembles, primes and evaluates the acid/base status of the ECMO circuit prior to the start of ECMO.
• Analyzes and evaluates clinical patient data to determine appropriate adjustments to the ECMO system and maintains prescribed parameters (acid-base balance, anticoagulation, circuit pressures, platelets, hematocrit and temperature).
• Participates in bedside rounds to review, discuss and recommend preferred treatment methods for patients.
• Initiates, delivers and discontinuates all medications and blood products delivered through the ECMO system; monitors and adjusts anticoagulation therapy under physician direction.
• Coordinates and accompanies ECMO patients during intra- and inter-hospital transport.
• Continuously monitors, assesses and evaluates patients on ECMO to maintain safety; responsible for maintaining up to two ECMO patients simultaneously.
• Provides clinical instruction on the proper use of ECMO equipment and related procedures; evaluates, maintains and troubleshoots equipment used for ECMO.
• Ensures availability and functionality of standby ECMO circuit and all emergency ECMO equipment at the bedside for circuit emergencies.
• Participates in orientation and competency training in ECMO and related procedures.
• When not functioning as an ECMO Specialist, functions as staff respiratory therapist evaluating clinical appropriateness and responses to respiratory care procedures in patients with cardiopulmonary issues.
• Assesses and provides complex intensive respiratory care and mechanical ventilation across patient populations in acute care areas.
• Provides safe service to Code Response Team, Rapid Response/Fast Team, and high-risk transport of ECMO patients to/from outlying facilities (Life Pact).
• Provides expert care in high-frequency ventilation, bronchoscopy assistance, percutaneous tracheostomy procedures, nitric oxide delivery, heliox or other medical gas delivery as appropriate.
• Participates in approved IRB medical research projects.
• Maintains infection control and biohazard waste procedures when caring for and disposing of circuit components; cleans and restocks pump and equipment cart after discontinuation of ECMO support.
• Participates in departmental quality improvement activities and attends ECMO staff meetings for case peer review and in-service education.
• Provides in-service education for other health care professionals; performs practice primes, wet drills and simulation activities; documents data on flow sheets/EMR and writes shift notes.
• Safeguards patient privacy and protects health information confidentiality.

• Maintains and updates clinical knowledge and skills based on current ECMO and…