ECMO Specialist

Brown Medicine • Cranston, RI

7d • $38 - $61 • Onsite

About The Position

Provides clinical patient care assessment, initiation, modification, and weaning of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), also referred to as Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS), to neonatal, pediatric, and adult patient populations in collaboration with a licensed physician with expertise in ECMO. Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence, which guide everyday actions with patients, customers, and colleagues. Additionally, all employees are expected to demonstrate core Success Factors, which outline how to work together and achieve goals, including Instilling Trust and Valuing Differences, and Patient and Community Focus and Collaboration.

Requirements

• Active Rhode Island Respiratory Therapy state license.
• Registered by the National Board for Respiratory Care within 6 months of hire.
• Associates degree in Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy (Bachelors preferred)
• One year of critical care experience in respiratory care and mechanical ventilation in all age groups.
• Successful completion of the RIH Respiratory Care Department ECMO training course.
• Must maintain current and active BLS, PALS and ACLS certification. (PALS, ACLS within 6 months)
• The only acceptable BLS or other life support certifications will be from the American Heart Association.
• Proficiency in advanced respiratory care practices in all age groups
• Knowledge of care and administration of blood and blood products
• Ability to train, orient, and mentor new ECMO staff members.
• Must maintain minimum pump hours per year (80).
• Will function as Alternate Supervisor and/or ECMO back up as assigned.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelors degree in Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy

Responsibilities

• Evaluates, assesses, and performs prescribed clinical procedures and therapy by order of a licensed medical provider.
• Works under the general supervision of the ECMO Manager, Respiratory Clinical Supervisors, and Managers of the Respiratory Care Dept.
• Analyzes and evaluates clinical patient data to determine the appropriate therapy or intervention and offers recommendations on patient care to the medical staff.
• Modifies therapy, as appropriate, based on patient physiology and response by executing knowledge of indications, contraindications, and the safe and effective use of all hospital-approved pharmacological agents and blood products delivered through the ECMO system.
• May accept verbal orders from a physician, nurse practitioners, and/or physician’s assistant where appropriate.
• Assists the physician in the initiation of ECMO.
• Assembles, primes, and evaluates the acid/base status of the ECMO circuit prior to the start of ECMO.
• Analyzes and evaluates clinical patient data to determine appropriate adjustments to the ECMO system and maintain prescribed parameters for acid-base balance, anticoagulation, circuit pressures, platelets, hematocrit, and temperature.
• Participates in bedside rounds to review, discuss, and recommend preferred treatment methods for patients.
• Responsible for initiation, delivery, and discontinuation of all medications and blood products delivered through the ECMO system.
• Monitors, evaluates, and adjusts anticoagulation therapy under the direction of the physician.
• Coordinates and accompanies ECMO patients during intra and inter-hospital transport.
• Continuously monitors, assesses, and evaluates patients on ECMO to maintain safety.
• Responsible for maintaining up to two ECMO patients simultaneously.
• Provides clinical instruction on the proper use of ECMO equipment, related procedures, and management to other healthcare providers.
• Evaluates, assesses, monitors, maintains, and troubleshoots equipment used for the delivery of ECMO.
• Maintains and ensures the availability and functionality of a standby ECMO circuit and all emergency ECMO equipment at the bedside for any circuit emergency.
• Participates in all comprehensive in-house orientation and competency training in ECMO and related procedures.
• When not functioning as an ECMO Specialist, functions as a staff respiratory therapist, evaluating and assessing the clinical appropriateness, efficacy, and responses to basic and medically complex respiratory care procedures in patients with cardiopulmonary-related difficulties.
• Assesses, evaluates, and provides complex intensive respiratory care and mechanical ventilation in all patient populations within the acute intensive care areas.
• Provides safe and effective service to the Code Response Team, Rapid Response/Fast Team, and the high-risk transport of ECMO patients to/from outlying facilities (LifePact).
• Provides expert care in the use of high-frequency ventilation, bronchoscopy assistance, percutaneous tracheostomy procedures, nitric oxide delivery, heliox, or other medical gas delivery.
• Participates in approved IRB medical research projects.
• Cleans and restocks pump and equipment cart after discontinuation of ECMO support, following all hospital policies regarding infection control and bio-hazard waste procedures when caring for and disposing of circuit components.
• Assembles all components, monitors, evaluates, and assesses the SCUF to ECMO interface.
• Participates in departmental quality improvement activities, including documenting variances that occur during the administration of ECMO.
• Attends ECMO Staff Meetings for case peer review and in-service education.
• Provides in-service education for other healthcare professionals.
• Performs periodic practice primes, wet drills, and simulation activities.
• Records pertinent data on flow sheets/EMR and writes shift notes.
• Safeguards the privacy of all patients and protects the confidentiality of their health information.

Benefits

• Brown University Health is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and maintaining a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree