CES ECMO Team Roles & Communication

Question 1

Who has primary responsibility for ECMO circuit management during a patient transport?

Accepted Answer

The ECMO specialist (perfusionist or trained clinician) accompanying the patient

Answer

The transport nurse

Answer

The bedside ICU nurse

Answer

The receiving facility's intensivist

Question 2

Which team member typically leads the ECMO cannulation procedure in most US ECMO centers?

Accepted Answer

Cardiothoracic or vascular surgeon

Answer

Critical care intensivist

Answer

Bedside ECMO nurse

Answer

Perfusionist

Question 3

The ECMO specialist's primary role includes all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Adjusting ventilator settings independently without physician order

Answer

Monitoring circuit pressures and flow

Answer

Managing anticoagulation in collaboration with the physician

Answer

Troubleshooting alarms and circuit issues

Question 4

During a code blue on an ECMO patient, the ECMO specialist's priority is:

Accepted Answer

Managing circuit flow and communicating ECMO parameters to the resuscitation team

Answer

Initiating compressions

Answer

Administering medications

Answer

Documenting the resuscitation

Question 5

Structured ECMO handoff communication (SBAR) should include which ECMO-specific element?

Accepted Answer

Current circuit flow, pressures, sweep gas settings, anticoagulation status, and recent alarms

Answer

Patient demographics and insurance information

Answer

Nursing shift assignments only

Answer

Dietary preferences and family visitation schedule

Question 6

Which organization provides the primary credentialing framework and competency standards for ECMO specialists in the US?

Accepted Answer

ELSO (Extracorporeal Life Support Organization)

Answer

AARC (American Association for Respiratory Care)

Answer

AABB (American Association of Blood Banks)

Answer

ABIM (American Board of Internal Medicine)