ECMO is a highly-specialized technique that is not available at all institutions and therefore not available to all patients who may benefit from its application. As a result, a gap exists between patient need and resource availability. As the medical director of the Department of Critical Care Transport, I am currently working, in partnership with several other departments (surgery & cardiology) to close this gap and link the expertise of UAB’s ECMO physicians & specialists with the critically ill located in our surrounding communities.
