ECMO Program designated a Center of Excellence

The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization has named the ECMO program at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin a "Designated Center of Excellence." The Children's Hospital program is one of only six in the U.S. to receive the ELSO Award for Excellence in Life Support for 2006-2008.

ECMO, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, acts like an artificial heart and lung. The machine puts oxygen in and takes carbon dioxide out of the blood and circulates the blood throughout the body, giving the patient's organs time to rest and heal. About 20 to 25 patients are placed on ECMO each year at Children's Hospital, which has been using ECMO therapy since 1986.

A panel of three experts judged each award application on criteria including: facilities and equipment; staffing; education, training and mentoring; evidence-based practice and research; patient outcomes; and family education and participation. The Children's Hospital program particularly was praised for its accomplishments in the education, training and mentoring category.

ELSO strives to encourage and support excellence in ECMO practice, research and education. Its membership includes more than 115 hospitals and institutions around the world. ELSO established the award to "recognize and honor ECMO programs internationally who reach the highest level of performance, innovation, satisfaction and quality."