Rapid Training in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for a Large Health System

Background: Despite the rapid integration of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) into intensive care units over the past decade, established programs for training critical care clinicians to provide ECMO are lacking. Objective: To evaluate the development and implementation of a multidisciplinary ECMO training program for the rapid deployment of ECMO training for a high volume of critical care clinicians. Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study examining a program for rapid training of multiple disciplines of critical care clinicians to deliver ECMO during the implementation of ECMO services across the intensive care units of an academic tertiary care center between October 2018 and January 2019. The multidisciplinary ECMO training program included didactic and simulation-based teaching and emphasized new, universal clinical protocols to improve consistency of care across the institution. Pre- and post-program written examinations evaluated knowledge acquisition, and an electronically distributed program evaluation assessed perceptions of content and delivery. Results: Among the 97 clinicians who completed the program, 49 (51%) were physicians and 48 (49%) were advanced practice providers from the departments of surgery (n = 42), medicine (n = 29), and anesthesia (n = 26). There was a significant difference in knowledge about ECMO between the pre- and post-program examination score (median [interquartile range] 70% [60–80%] vs. 90% [80–90%], respectively, P < 0.001). The median (interquartile range) individual gain from pre- to post-program score was 20% (10–30%). The program was perceived as useful and applicable to safe care. Conclusion: Rapid deployment of a multidisciplinary ECMO training program across a large academic center was feasible, achieved knowledge acquisition, and was positively perceived.