ELSO ECMO Practitioner Certification
ECMO certification is an important measure to ensure safe and competent care is being offered by ECMO practitioners. The development of a certification process requires rigorous methodology for curriculum development and subsequent assessment tool validation. ELSO is in the process of developing both knowledge and hands-on assessment tools for certification of ECMO practitioners to be globally relevant and applicable over the course of the year. Continue to watch this space for updates.
Bishoy Zakhary, MD
Chair, Logistics and Education
Registry Data Entry Deadline
January 15, 2020 is the deadline for entering registry data to be included in the January reports. After the deadline the registry will be closed for report generation.
Origen ECMO Cannula Withdrawal from Market
ELSO wants to make member centers aware of the details regarding a withdrawal from the market of many of Origen’s products, including VVDL ECMO cannulas. See the link below regarding the circumstances about this product withdrawal.
Origen Information Letter
Training Manual 4th Edition eBook now available!
Training Manual eBook - $34.99
Order Training Manual eBook!
Red Book 5th Edition eBook now available!
Red Book eBook - $84.99
Order Red Book eBook!
ELSO Clothing Store
The ELSO Clothing store is now open! Please use the link below to order your merchandise now!
https://stores.inksoft.com/elso/shop/home
CMS Update
As many of you are aware, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reassigned the Diagnostic Related Group codes for patients supported on ECMO using peripheral vessels for fiscal year 2019 (DRG codes are used to determine hospital payment). This decision was based upon the misguided belief that cannulation site was associated with patient acuity and the necessary consumption of hospital resources. ELSO and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) lead an effort to work with CMS in reversing this decision. Using the ELSO Registry, financial data from several leading centers, as well as projections on the impact to hospitals and patients, we were able to recruit 15 additional specialty societies to join our cause. On Tuesday, April 23rd, CMS publically released the proposed DRG assignments for fiscal year 2020. We are pleased to announce that THE INJURIOUS PAYMENT CUTS HAVE BEEN REVERSED. CMS acknowledged the importance of your ELSO Registry data which contradicted the presence of any relationship between cannulation site and acuity. We thank you for your tireless efforts and meticulous attention to detail in making our Registry effective in quality assurance, research, education, and patient advocacy. ELSO will continue to represent the ECMO community and most importantly, our patients.
Dr. Jonathan Haft
Dr. Robert Bartlett received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 48th Critical Care Congress at SCCM! Use the below link to view his talk.
Click to View Video
ELSO Center Renewal Information
All center registration is currently online through our website. For centers who joined prior to January 2018 all memberships were on calendar year and will expire December 31st. Renewal is required prior to your center membership expiration. If your center becomes inactive you will only be allowed to renew after logging into our website. You will not be able to access the data entry system, discussion board, etc. At this point there will be a late fee associated with the renewal as well.
If you have recently joined ELSO your membership will expire one year after you joined and emails will be timed appropriately.