Job Description Help for Job Description. Opens a new window. As an ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) Specialist you will operate and maintain ECMO circuits for patients requiring long-term pulmonary and/or cardiopulmonary support. The ECMO Specialist functions interdependently following standing ECMO orders and parameters under the direction and clinical supervision by of an ECMO physician.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist the physician, perfusionist and/or other clinical staff members with initiation of ECMO, the course and conduct of ECMO, and the conclusion of ECMO and any related therapies therein including but not limited to circuit or component changes, priming, blood bank communications, medication administration as licensure permits, and hemofiltration as examples.
• Demonstrate a culture of safety through a hand-off of the ECMO patient covering all aspects of the patient's care and the state of the ECMO circuit.
• Provide a detailed examination of the circuit to ensure its integrity, while written parameters and a plan of care are worked out during rounds.
• Ensure the continuity of the ECMO circuit as a whole, keeping it safe and secure during patient handling. Reducing the risks of circuit compromise by regular assessments is ongoing.
• Assess blood gas values, anticoagulation parameters and other laboratory values and work within a prescribed set of parameters and guidelines to maintain the patient in an optimal state of well-being.
• Monitor anticoagulation, analgesics, inotropes and other infusions are titrated, blood products are ordered and given, and the ECMO pump flow and oxygenator gas flow adjusted as needed.
• Lives the SpecialtyCare Values- Integrity, Care, Urgency, and Improvement.