Nicklaus Children’s Hospital has been recognized as a recipient of the Gold Level ELSO Award for Excellence in Life Support from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization. The award highlights those programs that have distinguished themselves by having processes and procedures that promote excellence and exceptional care in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Extracorporeal Life Support Services are provided through the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Nicklaus Children’s, the leading pediatric care facility in South Florida.

Nicklaus Children’s Hospital was selected as a Center of Excellence for demonstrating extraordinary achievement in the following three categories:

• Excellence in promoting the mission, activities, and vision of ELSO;

• Excellence in patient care by using the highest quality measures, processes, and structures based upon evidence; and

• Excellence in training, education, collaboration, and communication supporting ELSO guidelines that contributes to a healing environment for families, patients and staff.
   

“Gold Level recognition is testament to the dedication of the Nicklaus Children’s PICU clinical team and their commitment to providing the highest quality life-saving intervention for the region’s most critically ill infants and children,” said Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Chief Nursing Officer Shannon Odell, MSN, BSN, RNC-OB, NE-BC.

 
The ELSO Award signifies a commitment to exceptional patient care. It also demonstrates an assurance of high quality standards, specialized equipment and supplies, defined patient protocols, and advanced education of all staff members.