Elevate Your ECMO Skills
Being a new ECMO specialist, I have seen some exceptional ECMO Specialists and seen some common characteristics. They all seem to have good technical skills, clinical knowledge, and certain personal attributes. The following qualities are what I see as qualities to be an excellent ECMO specialist:
Comprehensive Knowledge and Training: This is a no-brainer, but an ECMO specialist must have in-depth knowledge of the ECMO circuits, patient management, and emergency procedures. This involves rigorous training, including didactic instruction, hands-on practice, and continuous education to stay updated with the latest advancements and protocols in ECMO management.
Attention to Detail: Given the complexity of ECMO procedures, an excellent specialist must be meticulous and vigilant. This includes monitoring subtle changes in the ECMO circuit, such as slight increases in circuit pressure or the formation of clots, to prevent potential complications.
Effective Communication and Teamwork: Strong communication skills and working collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team are crucial. ECMO specialists work as team members with nurses, perfusionists, respiratory therapists, and physicians, making teamwork essential for patient care.
Problem-Solving Skills: This is big: Good and excellent specialists don't just write down numbers EPIC or whatever EMR system you are using. The ability to think critically and solve problems quickly under pressure is vital. This includes managing emergencies, troubleshooting circuit issues, and making timely decisions to ensure patient safety.
Empathy and Compassion: An ECMO specialist's role includes relating to the patient and making it easy for the patient and family to talk to you. This will allow the ES to support the patient and their family emotionally. Empathy and compassion help build trust and deliver patient-centered care.
Targeting Excellence
A novice ECMO specialist can improve and target excellence by focusing on the following areas:
Continuous Education and Training: Regular training sessions, simulations, and educational courses can enhance skills and knowledge. ELSO guidelines recommend continuous education and competency assessments to maintain high standards in ECMO care.
Seeking Feedback and Mentorship: Regular feedback from experienced colleagues and mentors can help identify areas for improvement. Mentorship provides guidance and support, helping specialists to refine their skills and approach.
Developing Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: Participating in crisis resource management training and simulations can improve a specialist's ability to handle emergencies effectively. This training enhances decision-making and problem-solving capabilities under stress. I don't think you can ever overdo participating in simulations.
Enhancing Communication Skills: Improving communication through team-building exercises and interdisciplinary meetings can foster collaboration and understanding within the ECMO team. Effective communication is key to successful patient outcomes.
Fostering a Culture of Safety and Vigilance: Emphasizing the importance of vigilance and meticulous care in the ECMO unit can reduce errors and improve patient safety. Specialists should be encouraged to remain attentive and proactive in identifying and addressing potential issues.
As a novice ECMO Specialist, I remind myself that progress is not perfection. I am learning to become better with my craft and trying to learn from other ECMO Specialists. One thing I focus on is what I discussed in another article I wrote, "Confessions of a New ECMO Specialist: 12 Rules to Keep Me Sane," which is to compare myself to who I was yesterday. It is important to Focus on my own growth and development, acknowledging and celebrating even the smallest achievements rather than comparing myself to others. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to have a go-to ES that you trust and can privately talk to about your ECMO journey. In my journey, this person has reminded me not to compare myself to an ECMO Specialist with 15 or 20 years of experience. It took them 15 years to have the right answer or to ask the right questions and to become excellent at their craft. Instead, look at where I came from and how much more I know since one year ago.
Focusing on these areas can enhance the competencies of novice ECMO specialists, leading to improved patient care and clinical outcomes.
Have a Happy Journey
Note: This article reflects my learning journey in ECMO and is intended for educational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice or guidance. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals for clinical decisions and patient care.
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Acknowledgments:
I developed three custom GPTs, “AI ECMO Expert,” “ECMO Specialist Handover Practice,” and “Micro Definitions (MD-GPT),” for specialized research. These tools draw primarily from the ELSO Redbook (6th Edition), the ELSO Specialist Training Manual (4th Edition), various research papers, and articles. Additional research was supported by GPT-4o/o1, Claude 3.5 Sonnet/Opus, and Perplexity. Editing was performed with Grammarly. A.I. images and charts were created using Leonardo AI, DALL-E3 AI Image Generator, Microsoft Designer, and Adobe Express. Content for all articles sourced from Extracorporeal Life Support: The ELSO Red Book, 6th Edition, and ECMO Specialist Training Manual, 4th Edition.