The University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC) Heart Lung Vascular Institute’s extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) program has earned the Silver Level ELSO Award from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO). This prestigious award is presented to centers that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to evidence-based processes and quality measures, staff training and continuing education, patient satisfaction and ongoing clinical care.
This designation is a testament to our extraordinary achievement in three key categories: measures, processes and structures. This recognition is based upon evidence and excellence in training, education, collaboration, and communication that supports ELSO guidelines and contributes to a healing environment for families, patients and staff.
“We are honored to be the recipient of such a prestigious award,” said Dr. Ben Bevill, Medical Director of the ECMO program at UTMC’s Heart Lung Vascular Institute. “This accomplishment reflects the dedication to advancing healthcare that we continuously strive to achieve at The University of Tennessee Medical Center.”
“Achieving this award is deeply gratifying because it affirms our commitment to education and evaluation—giving our patients the best possible chance for successful outcomes,” said Annie Criswell, ECMO Program Manager at UTMC. “This recognition reflects quality care of a highly collaborative team of physicians, nurses, perfusionists and respiratory therapists.”
Achieving the ELSO Award assures ECMO programs that they produce exceptional results and demonstrates our commitment to high-quality standards for the healthcare community. It also highlights our specialized equipment and supplies, defined patient protocols and advanced education of all staff members.
UTMC was the first hospital in the region to provide this life-saving treatment to critically ill patients. Our ECMO program is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of healthcare providers, including nurses, specialists, therapists, physicians and other caregivers.
ELSO is an international nonprofit consortium of healthcare centers and individuals dedicated to the development, evaluation and improvement of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and other innovative therapies for the support of failing organ systems in infants, children and adults.