Implementing Nurse Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Specialists to Maintain a Sustainable Program

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Cardiopulmonary Support
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life-saving intervention for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) when conventional treatments fail.
• Continuous management of ECMO is resource-intensive, leading to substantial operational costs.
• The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these costs due to increased patient numbers requiring ECMO, particularly when managed by perfusionists.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the financial impact of transitioning ECMO management from perfusionists to nurses.
• To assess the feasibility and benefits of a nurse-driven ECMO program.

Main Methods:

• A shift from a perfusionist-managed to a nurse-driven ECMO model was implemented.
• Cost analysis focused on hourly management expenses before and after the transition.

Main Results:

• Implementing a nurse-driven ECMO program resulted in a 52% reduction in hourly management costs.
• The transition improved nursing support and program sustainability.

Conclusions:

• A nurse-driven ECMO model offers a significant cost-saving strategy.
• This model enhances nursing support and sustainability, making it a viable alternative for other ECMO centers.