Approximately 6000 intensive care units (ICUs) in the United States maintain extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) programs.¹ Patients who require ECMO are among the most critically ill in the ICU. ECMO is used to treat patients across the age spectrum, from infants to adults, and is most commonly utilized to support patients with cardiogenic shock or respiratory failure who does not respond to conventional treatment modalities. In addition, ECMO has been applied in select cases of complex 

The use of ECMO relies heavily on human factors, which necessitate extensive training for health care providers involved in caring for these patients.⁷ Although technology has advanced considerably in recent years, the health care providers responsible for managing the ECMO system and the patients remain the most critical components of the ECMO circuit’s effectiveness. The behaviors, capabilities, and limitations of the users play a crucial role in ensuring safety and efficacy.⁸ A critical care