The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization, an international organization dedicated to ECMO support, has recognized the Children's of Alabama Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Center as a Gold Level Center of Excellence.

"I am proud of each team member's contribution to this recognition," Martha McBride, NP, clinical coordinator of the Children's ECMO Center, said.

Children's has been recognized as a Center of Excellence every year since 2013. ELSO announces Award for Excellence winners every three years, and Children's is a Gold Level Center of Excellence for the second straight cycle.

McBride believes recent technology upgrades contributed to this year's recognition. The center has replaced its entire eight-machine ECMO fleet with new pumps that offer advanced safety features and integrated technology that will allow the Children's ECMO team to pull safety and quality reports.

The Children's ECMO center cares for about 50 patients each year, which McBride says is a high volume compared to other ECMO programs.