non-profit organization | |
Industry | Health care |
Founded | 1989 |
Headquarters | Ann Arbor, MI, United States |
Website | http://www.elso.org/ |
The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) is a non profit organization established in 1989 supporting health care professionals and scientists who are involved in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). ELSO maintains a registry of both facilities and specialists trained to provide ECMO services. ELSO also maintains registry information that is used to support clinical research, support regulatory agencies, and support individual ELSO centers. ELSO provides educational programs for active centers as well as for facilities who may be involved in the transfer of patients to higher levels of care.
In addition to the North American-based ELSO organization, chapters have been developed to represent the regional needs of ELSO in the rest of the world. Current chapters include:
ELSO promulgates guidelines for the care of patients on ECMO. They include overall guidelines about setting up a program, proper equipment, and patient care for certain medical conditions. Additional education on ECMO topics is provided through ELSO published textbooks and training manuals for ECMO specialists. ELSO recognizes centers with exceptional programs, systems, processes, and outcomes with the Award for Excellence in Life Support.
ELSO provides position statements on: