JAX Chamber: Memorial Hospital Will Offer ECMO Life Support Starting November 15th

Press release from the JAX Chamber:

November 15, 2021

“We have seen an increased need for ECMO during the pandemic and bringing ECMO capability to Memorial is timely for our patients and our community,” said Dale Mueller, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon at Memorial Hospital Jacksonville. “In our ICU, we’ve experienced sicker patients, requiring complex care during the pandemic which has stressed hospitals – ECMO can address the need for those with heart and lung failure.”

There is a shortage of ECMO availability in hospitals nationwide. With Memorial bringing additional resources to meet the shortage demand, it will allow patients to remain closer to their families in Northeast Florida without the need to be transferred to another city for ECMO life support.

Memorial will begin providing ECMO life support in November following the completion of training by its Critical Care and Respiratory teams. “We will continue to build our expertise in ECMO working toward becoming an ECMO center of excellence,” said Dr. Mueller.

COVID-19 has increased the number of patients needing ECMO to avoid further damage to the lungs while a patient recovers. There are two types of ECMO, one that oxygenates and supports the lungs known as Venovenous ECMO or “VV” and the other that supports the heart and lungs known as Venoarterial ECMO or “VA”.

ECMO can only be offered to patients by a physician referral.

Leadership of the new ECMO life support at Memorial will be overseen by cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Mueller, cardiologist Sumant Lamba, MD and critical care director David Rice, MD.

Dr. Mueller

Dr. Lamba

Dr. Rice

ABOUT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - Memorial Hospital is a full service, acute care, Level II Trauma hospital with 454 inpatient beds and three freestanding emergency rooms serving northeast Florida. Fully accredited by the Joint Commission onAccreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Memorial is ranked as one of top hospitals in the country for heart, lung and surgical care. For more information about us, visit: MemorialHospitalJax.com

Odette Struys

AVP Public Relations

904.707.9301

Odette.Struys@hcahealthcare.com

This press release was produced by the JAX Chamber. The views expressed here are the author’s own.