Cohen Children’s Medical Center Designated Life Support Center of Excellence

NEW HYDE PARK -- The Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center (CCMC) of New York has received the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization’s (ELSO) Excellence in Life Support award for its demonstrated dedication to and use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a temporary heart-lung bypass system used to treat infants and children with life-threatening respiratory disease, cardiac disease or the combination.

The ELSO Excellence in Life Support Award recognizes CCMC’s extracorporeal life support program as an internationally distinguished facility with processes, procedures and systems that promote excellence and exceptional care in ECMO. The hospital’s ECMO program is the only one on Long Island, and one of the most active in the region. As an ELSO Center of Excellence, CCMC demonstrates outstanding achievement in three categories: patient care using the highest-quality measures and evidence-based processes; training, education and collaboration among staff contributing to a healing environment; and the promotion of the goals, guidelines and vision of ELSO.

“Our designation as an ELSO Center of Excellence is a testament to CCMC’s commitment to exceptional patient and critical care, and the hard work of our staff,” said Peter Silver, MD, chief of pediatric critical care at CCMC. “Using specialized equipment, our staff established patient protocols and received advanced training and education in extracorporeal life support. Their expertise distinguishes our team among the local and international healthcare communities, and provides life-saving options to infants struggling to survive.”

CCMC is a regional referral center for neonates and pediatric patients with critical illness, including those that require lung and heart rescue therapies such as ECMO. The hospital is staged with pediatric and neonatal intensive care specialists, pediatric surgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons and cardiologists, specially trained nurses, perfusionists and respiratory therapists, all making the ECMO team. In addition, specially trained social work and Child Life specialists are available to meet the needs of the patients’ families. The ECMO program is available in the newborn and pediatric intensive care units.

ELSO is an international consortium of healthcare professionals and scientists who are dedicated to the development and evaluation of novel therapies for the support of failing organ systems. Its goal is to recognize and honor ECLS programs that reach the highest level of performance, innovation, satisfaction and quality. The ELSO Award of Excellence is recognized by US News and World Report and Parents magazine as criteria for top institutions.