Critical Care Transport of the Temporary Portable Ventricular Support Device.

Objective: Cardiogenic shock is a critical emergency for which ventricular support devices (VSDs), such as the Impella (AbioMed Inc, Danvers, MA), are placed. Many referring facilities cannot provide cardiac intensive care. This requires a regional approach to the care of patients with VSD.

Point-of-Care Laboratory Data Collection During Critical Care Transport.

Objective: Critical care transport involves a high level of intensive clinical care in a resource-limited environment. These patients require multiple assessments guiding specialty treatments, including blood product administration, intravenous electrolyte replacement, ventilator management, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. This study aims to measure the usage of point-of-care (POC) laboratory data during critical care transport.

Interhospital ECMO Transport: Regional Focus.

Utilization of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has increased dramatically over the last decade. Despite this trend, many medical centers have limited, if any, access to this technology or the resources necessary to manage these complex patients. In an effort to improve the current infrastructure of regional ECMO care, ECMO centers of excellence have an obligation to partner with facilities within their communities and regions to increase access to this potentially life-saving technology.