ECMO Specialist

ECMO Specialist

Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children Providing compassionate care to the children, teenagers and young adults of Central Florida for more than 30 years, Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children is located on the downtown Orlando campus and includes 156 licensed beds for specialized care for children as well as the Bert Martin's Champions for Children Emergency Department & Trauma Center, offering trauma care for children as the pediatric site of the Orlando Health ORMC Level One Trauma Center. State-of-the-art pediatric services are provided by a comprehensive staff that includes pediatric subspecialty physicians and a nursing team that is "Magnet" recognized for nursing excellence and high-quality patient care. The hospital also has earned national recognition for 12 consecutive years as a "Best Children's Hospitals" by U.S. News & World Report and was included, together with Orlando Health ORMC, in the IBM Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals® list for 2021.

The Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenator (ECMO) Specialist is responsible for the daily operation of ECLS (Extracorporeal Life Support) under the direction of ECMO Leadership. ECMO specialists are expected to perform required technical skills with efficiency, accuracy and safety while anticipating, troubleshooting and managing crises and emergency situations according to policy and procedure. They are to work under the direction of unit intensivist services, perfusion services and in collaboration with bedside staff to ensure that the patient on ECMO has adequate perfusion, corrects for proper acid-base balance, and provides for hemodynamic stability within ordered parameters.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• The ECMO Specialist provides daily staffing for ECLS services.
• Specialists communicate with physicians, perfusionists and other members of the healthcare team to interpret, adjust and complete treatment specific care for the ECMO patient.
• Specialists work in multiple different intensive care units offering ECLS support in neonate, pediatric and adult populations.
• Performs scheduled, un-scheduled, and emergency ECLS in both the hospital and pre-hospital setting.
• Operates all ECMO equipment under direction from MD/perfusion providers.
• Monitors and troubleshoots the ECMO circuit and related equipment during the management period.
• Accurately administers blood products and medications through the ECMO circuit.
• Manages any equipment when connected in-line with ECMO circuit.
• Management of ECLS during transports.
• Cooperates and adheres to scheduling to ensure continuous ECLS coverage.
• Attends Mandatory Quarterly Simulations
• Performs quality control, quality assurance and preventive maintenance according to policy and procedure.
• Maintenance of safe and clean equipment and working environment.
• Functions accordingly to the guidelines as set forth by state, federal, and other regulatory agencies.
• Maintains reasonably regular, punctual attendance consistent with Orlando Health policies, the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards.
• Maintains compliance with all Orlando Health policies and procedures.

Other Related Functions

• Participates in quality improvement activities related to patient care/services.
• Maintains equipment and supplies for use in ECMO/perfusion services and provides pertinent information to supervisor/director.
• Ensures that services are provided with a high standard of care.
• Provides critical resource support to APH critical care areas or other areas as directed by leadership when not providing ECLS services.

Qualifications

Education/Training

• Graduate of an accredited nursing or respiratory therapy program

Licensure/Certification

• Maintains license as a Registered Nurse or Respiratory Therapist (RRT) by the State of Florida Department of Health
• Maintains current BLS/HealthCare Provider Certification
• Must obtain NRP, PALS, ACLS Certifications within 6 months of hire
• Successful completion of ELSO (Extracorporeal Life Support Organization) endorsed or content equivalent ECMO provider course within 6 months of hire

Experience

• Two (2) years of experience in an ICU environment (pediatric experience preferred)
• Previous ECMO experience preferred.