USA Health Providence Hospital First To Offer Local ECMO

 USA Health Providence Hospital in West Mobile hospital now offers extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), an advanced therapy that temporarily supports the heart and lungs for patients with severe, potentially reversible cardiac or respiratory failure. This program is funded in part by the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program under the American Rescue Plan Act. The Mobile County Commission received approximately $80.26 million in SLFRF funds to address pandemic-related public health challenges, infrastructure needs and economic recovery. The county commission’s Strategic Spending Plan guided investments toward projects with a direct impact on health and safety, including ECMO services. ECMO temporarily takes over the work of the heart and lungs by circulating blood through a pump and oxygenator, adding oxygen and removing carbon dioxide. While it does not treat the underlying disease, ECMO provides critical support while organs recover or serves as a bridge to transplant or other definitive therapies. Prior to this initiative, no healthcare providers in Mobile or Baldwin counties offered ECMO services, requiring patients to travel to Birmingham or out of state, often at significant risk and inconvenience. USA Health is fulfilling the urgent need to provide local access to advanced cardiopulmonary care. The service is supported by a 24/7 ECMO-trained multidisciplinary team.