Educational Training

ECMO Lifesavers: Advancing Care Through Best Practices and Immersive Simulation

January 26 - 27, 2026

Course Overview

ECMO Lifesavers: Advancing Care Through Best Practices and Immersive Simulation is an immersive, hands-on course designed for physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, ECMO specialists, and perfusionists involved in the care of patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). This two-day program equips learners with the latest evidence-based practices in ECMO management through lectures with up-to-date guidelines, case-based discussions, and high-fidelity simulations. Participants will refine their skills in troubleshooting ECMO emergencies, ventilator management, and team-based care coordination while gaining confidence in role-specific interventions for both VV and VA ECMO patients. The course emphasizes interprofessional collaboration, critical decision-making, and practical application to improve outcomes for critically ill patients requiring ECMO support.

Location

Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS)
124 S. Franklin St., Tampa, FL 33602

Course Fees

$2,500.00
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Payment will not be accepted on site.

Course Outcome:

  • Demonstrate effective teamwork in the care of an ECMO patient by achieving team coordination and adherence to role-specific responsibilities and interventions.

Course Objectives:

  • Describe best practices and advances for ECMO management.
  • Demonstrate the ability to apply updated ECMO management protocols to case-based acute clinical scenarios.
  • Collaborate in interprofessional groups to develop a standardized care plan based on the updated ECMO protocols, achieving alignment with organizational standards, as evaluated through the faculty and peer reviews.

Target Audience:

  • Physicians
    • Intensivists
    • Cardiothoracic Surgery
    • Pulmonologists
    • Cardiologists
  • Advanced Practice Providers
  • RN’s
  • ECMO Specialists
  • Perfusionists

Monday • January 26, 2026

7:30 am

Registration and Breakfast

8:00 am

Welcome and Introductions

8:10 am

Introduction to ECMO

VV ECMO – indications, contraindications, physiology, vent management, and weaning

Management of RV Failure and Frail Hemodynamics on VV ECMO
Panel Discussion: Case-based Practical Approach to Troubleshoot Hypoxemia on VV ECMO
Venting and Unloading: Indications, Contraindications, and Complications

VA ECMO Escalation, Weaning, De-escalation – Process and Protocols

Patient Management – Dynamic Scenario Case Discussion
Troubleshooting/Alarms on ECMO last topic prior to skills labs
1:50 pm

Rotation 1: Nursing Skills (cannula indication and monitoring, critical troubleshooting drills, and circuit interpretation) /Provider Skills (cannula size selection, cannula malposition, and flow issue troubleshooting)

Cannula securement vs. cannula placement for nurses

2:20 pm
Transition
2:30 pm
Rotation 2: Nursing Skills (cannula indication and monitoring, critical troubleshooting drills, and circuit interpretation) / Provider Skills (cannula size selection, cannula malposition, and flow issue troubleshooting)
3:00 pm

Transition

3:10 pm
Rotation 3: Nursing Skills (cannula indication and monitoring, critical troubleshooting drills, and circuit interpretation) / Provider Skills (cannula size selection, cannula malposition, and flow issue troubleshooting)
3:40 pm
Closing/Wrap-up

Tuesday • January 27, 2026

7:30 am
Registration and Breakfast
8:00 am
Ethics of ECMO: Role of Palliative Care and The Difficult Conversations (Care Presentation and Panel Discussion)

Cardio-Pulmonary Failure – Support Strategies, Hybrid Configurations and Indications

Complications, Vascular and anticoagulation considerations and monitoring

Risk Stratification for Next Therapies vs Recovery vs Transplant Candidacy (2-3 Cases)
Rehab Ambulation
eCPR and Mobile ECMO
Advances in ECMO: Long-Term Support, ECPR, and Organ Indications last didactic session
12:15 pm

Lunch

12:45 pm
Simulation 1 (ECMO VV Malposition Case, ECMO VA Pump Failure Case)/ Case Tabletop (eCPR, exit strategy)
1:00 pm
Debrief/Case Tabletop
1:15 pm
Debrief/Case Tabletop
1:30 pm
Transition
1:45 pm
Case Tabletop (eCPR, exit strategy)/ Simulation 1 (ECMO VV Malposition Case, ECMO VA Pump Failure Case)
2:00 pm
Case Tabletop/Debrief
2:15 pm
Case Tabletop/Debrief
2:30 pm
Transition
2:45 pm
Simulation 2  (ECMO VA Pump Failure Case, ECMO VV Malposition Case)/ Case Tabletop (eCPR, exit strategy)
3:00 pm
Debrief/Case Tabletop
3:15 pm
Debrief/Case Tabletop
3:30 pm
Transition
3:45 pm
Case Tabletop (eCPR, exit strategy)/ Simulation 2 (ECMO VA Pump Failure Case, ECMO VV Malposition Case)
4:00 pm
Case Tabletop/Debrief
4:15 pm
Case Tabletop/Debrief
4:30 pm
Closing/Wrap-up

Questions

For questions about course content, please contact camlsoperations@usf.edu.

Cancellation Policy

Due to instructors, tissue and resources being procured based on course attendance, USF Health Professions Conferencing Corporation must adhere to the following cancellation policy.

  • All requests for cancellation, transfer or refunds much be received in writing to camlsoperations@usf.edu.
  • Cancellations received at least 31 calendar days prior to the start of the activity, a refund will be provided minus a $75 administrative fee and the cost of the book and shipping (up to a total $165.00 combined with shipping, textbook and admin fee).
  • Requests for a transfer to another course date at least 31 calendar days prior to the start of the activity will be honored with no additional fees. The new course date must be within 6 months of the original course date.
  • No refunds or requests for transfer will be provided if cancellation is received within (and including) 30 calendar days of the start date of the activity
  • No-shows are not eligible for a refund or transfer.
  • For internal USF participants or organizations wishing to be invoiced for registrations, your department or organization will be invoiced according to the above guidelines.

USF Health Professions Conferencing Corporation reserves the right to cancel this activity due to unforeseen circumstances, in which you will be contacted via phone and/or email to reschedule or issue a refund. USF Health Professions Conferencing Corporation is not responsible for travel expenses incurred by the participants in the rare event that this activity is canceled or postponed.