Position Paper on Global Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Education and Educational Agenda for the Future: A Statement From the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization ECMOed Taskforce*. Issue 3 (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zakhary, Bishoy; Shekar, Kiran; Diaz, Rodrigo; Badulak, Jenelle; Johnston, Lindsay; Roeleveld, Peter Paul; Alinier, Guillaume; Lai, Peter Chi Keung; Ramanathan, Kollengode; Moore, Elizabeth; Hassan, Ibrahim; Agerstrand, Cara; Ngai, Wallace Chun-wai; Salazar, Leonardo; Raman, Lakshmi; Bembea, Melania M.; Davidson, Mark; Gomez-Gutierrez, Rene D.; Mateo-Sidrón, Jose Alfonso Rubio; Kukutschka, Jeannie; Antonini, Marta V.; Dickstein, Marc L.; Schmidt, Matthieu; Abrams, Darryl; Ogino, Mark T.
• Is Part Of: Critical care medicine. Volume 48:Issue 3(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: certification -- education -- Extracorporeal Life Support Organization -- extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; Critical care medicine -- Periodicals; Soins intensifs -- Périodiques; 616.028
• DOI: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000004158
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0090-3493

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: The purpose of this position paper is two-fold: first, to describe the state of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation education worldwide, noting current limitations and challenges; and second, to put forth an educational agenda regarding opportunities for an international collaborative approach toward standardization. Design: Relevant medical literature was reviewed through literature search, and materials from national organizations were accessed through the Internet. Taskforce members generated a consensus statement using an iterative consensus process through teleconferences and electronic communication. Setting: In 2018, the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization convened the ECMOed Taskforce at two structured, face-to-face meetings of 40 healthcare practitioners and educators with expertise in caring for the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patient and in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation education. Patients: None. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: The ECMOed Taskforce identified seven educational domains that would benefit from international collaborative efforts. Of primary importance, the Taskforce outlined actionable items regarding 1) the creation of a standardized extracorporeal membrane oxygenation curriculum; 2) defining criteria for an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation course as a vehicle for delivering the curriculum; 3) outlining a mechanism for evaluating the quality of educational offerings; 4) utilizing validated assessment tools in the development of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation practitioner certification; and 5) promoting high-quality educational research to guide ongoing educational and competency assessment development. Conclusions: Significant variability and limitations in global extracorporeal membrane oxygenation education exist. In this position paper, we outline a road map for standardizing international extracorporeal membrane oxygenation education and practitioner certification. Ongoing high-quality educational research is needed to evaluate the impact of these initiatives.