The Role of Simulation in Training of ECMO Specialists

The ECMO specialist is a highly trained, integral member of the extracorporeal life support team. A perfusionist, registered nurse, or respiratory therapist most commonly fills this role in the hospital setting. While institutions differ in use of the three disciplines for staffing, simulation creates a unified approach for specialist education. An ECMO coordinator, overseeing the specialist team, must have the technical and educational range to teach foundational ECLS terminology to new team members while continually advancing the program incorporating high-fidelity scenario-based training to challenge and refine skills of the veteran specialist.