title: Expanded resources through utilization of a primary care giver extracorporeal membrane oxygenation model.
abstract: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a long-term extracorporeal support for critically ill patients with life-threatening compromises in cardiac and/or respiratory function. The unpredictability of ECMO resources for a large pediatric and adult population prompted a need for the ability to respond to significant fluctuations in the volume of patients on ECMO. Through multidisciplinary collaboration, the Primary Care Giver (PCG) ECMO Staffing Model was developed to accommodate unpredictable fluctuations in ECMO activity and to maintain flexibility and fiscal responsibility in turbulent economic times. Advancements in extracorporeal technology supported the opportunity to develop a safe and extended staffing model for ECMO. Combining the use of a centrifugal pump system with specialized and experienced cardiovascular intensive care nurses and the ECMO specialist team provided a milieu for education and training to support the new staffing model. The PCG ECMO model provides a safe, flexible, and fiscally responsible staffing model for variable ECMO activity.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery Step-Down Unit, University of Michigan Health Care System, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. colthorp@med.umich.edu
authors.forename: Regi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Chrissy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nault
authors.forename: Jole'
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mowry
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baldridge
mesh_terms: D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing*; D006295:Health Resources / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006280:Health Workforce; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D016294:Models, Nursing; D017146:Models, Organizational; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*