ECMO Specialist

ECMO Specialist | Boston Childrens Hospital

Position Summary The ECMO Specialist is enrolled and actively participating in the department's ECMO Training Program. This role is responsible for developing and maintaining the skills necessary to proficiently and safely establish, manage, and control extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) technology and assist with associated procedures in acutely ill patients of all ages in critical care settings. The specialist will learn to troubleshoot devices and associated equipment under the supervision of experienced ECMO personnel, provide ongoing care through surveillance of clinical and physiologic parameters, adjust ECLS devices as needed, administer and document blood products and medications in accordance with hospital standards, provide airway and ventilator management, and perform the full scope of practice of a Respiratory Therapist II.

Key Responsibilities

• Assemble, prepare, and maintain extracorporeal circuits and associated equipment with assistance.
• Assist in priming extracorporeal circuits and preparing systems for clinical application.
• Assist with cannulation procedures.
• Assist in establishing extracorporeal support; monitor patient response, provide routine assessments, circuit evaluations, patient monitoring, and anticoagulation management.
• Assist with ECMO circuit interventions, weaning procedures, and transports.
• Administer blood products per hospital standards.
• Interact and communicate with caregivers, nursing, surgical and medical teams, patients, and family members.
• Maintain relevant clinical documentation in the patient's electronic health record.
• Participate in professional development, simulation, and continuing education.
• Attend ECMO Team meetings and M&M conferences on a regular basis.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Required: Associate's Degree in Respiratory Therapy. Preferred: Bachelor's Degree.
• Experience: Required: A minimum of one year of experience as a BCH Respiratory Therapist with eligibility for promotion to RT II, or one year of external ECMO experience. Preferred: None specified.
• Licensure/Certifications: Required: Current Massachusetts license as a Respiratory Therapist. Required: Current credential by the National Board of Respiratory Care as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT); Neonatal Pediatric Specialist (NPS) credential must be obtained within 6 months of entry into the role. Preferred: None specified.

Schedule: 36 hours per week, rotating day/night shifts, every third weekend. This position is eligible for full time benefits $20,000 sign-on bonus (not eligible for internal candidates and not eligible for former BCH employees who worked here in the past 2 years).