ECMO Specialist II

Position Responsibilities: 

• Monitors and adjusts ECMO circuit settings, (e.g. heat exchanger temperature, pump flow, sweep gas) to maintain parameters established by the ECMO physician.
• Infuses blood products, fluids, and/or medications per ECMO protocol.
• Assess the cardiovascular (hemodynamic) status of the patient through test results (e.g. ABG’s, CBC, etc.) and physical assessment findings.
• Performs patient assessment to anticipate and prevent potential problems (e.g., variances in blood pressure, perfusion, and heart rate).
• Verifies and implements physician’s orders pertaining to drug dosages and monitors potential drug interactions pertaining to the ECMO patient.
• Monitors and manages fluids according to ECMO protocol and maintains accurate intake and output records to ensure appropriate fluid levels.
• Utilizes Activated Clotting Time (ACT) values to assess clotting status; adjusts heparin infusion per ECMO protocol.
• In collaboration with the ECMO physician, evaluates chest x‐rays for cannula position; supports and maintains patency of the cannula while patient is undergoing ECMO.
• Supports ECMO team research through the collection of ECMO‐ related data, preparation and presentation of research abstracts and/or other documentations.
• Initiates ECMO, terminates ECMO and performs oxygenator/circuit change outs according to physician’s order.
• Proctors, trains and evaluates ECMO Specialist I according to ECMO protocols.
• Oversees ECMO Specialist I duties as the senior ECMO Specialist during the shift.

Minimum Requirements: 

Education and Licensure: 

• Licensed/provisional Perfusionist in the state of Texas and provisional CCP or CCP
• Graduated from an accredited perfusion school in the United States and eligible to sit for American Boards of Cardiovascular Perfusion.

Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center is an internationally recognized leader in research and clinical excellence that has given rise to breakthroughs in cardiovascular care neuroscience oncology transplantation and more. Our team’s efforts have led to the creation of many research programs and initiatives to develop advanced treatments found nowhere else in the world. In our commitment to advancing standards in an ever-evolving healthcare environment our new McNair Campus is designed around the human experience—modeled on evidence-based practices for the safety of patients visitors staff and physicians. The 27.5-acre campus represents the future of healthcare through a transformative alliance focused on leading-edge patient care research and education. Our strong alliance with Texas Heart® Institute and Baylor College of Medicine allows us to bring our patients a powerful network of care unlike any other. Our collaboration is focused on increasing access to care through a growing network of leading specialists and revolutionizing healthcare to save lives and improve the health of the communities we serve.

Position Summary: 

Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is a modified cardiopulmonary bypass technique used for the treatment of life threatening cardiac or respiratory failure. An ECMO specialist is the technical specialist educated to manage the ECMO system including blood pump, tubing, artificial oxygenator, and related equipment. The ECMO specialist II works under qualified medical direction of Physician.