ID:87 FC-D06-1 Standardising education through the conception and adoption of a State-wide Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Training Framework

Background: The Victorian ECMO Service (VECMOS) was established in 2020 following a health department review of ECMO training, access, and outcomes across Victoria, Australia. VECMOS was designed as a coordinated, networked clinical service with standardised education and credentialing to support high-quality ECMO care. This abstract describes the development of a statewide ECMO education and training framework with minimum education and credentialing standards and reports clinician engagement, training, and credentialing outcomes 30 months post-implementation. Methods: The VECMOS Education Working Group developed a statewide framework incorporating a foundational curriculum, a scaffolded training approach, defined clinical roles, and minimum credentialing standards. The framework was designed for novice-to-expert learners, aligned with Extracorporeal Life Support Organisation (ELSO) guidelines, focusing on clinically relevant, adaptable, and sustainable training. Development involved collaboration among educational experts and multidisciplinary clinicians in medical, nursing, perfusion, and allied health. Results: The framework was implemented in April 2023 and delivered through local hospital education programs, a VECMOS–Alfred Foundation ECMO course, and statewide education activities. To date, 451 clinicians have completed local hospital programs, and 678 have completed the VECMOS–Alfred Foundation course. Fifteen senior clinicians have been credentialed as instructors, and three advanced VECMOS Masterclasses have engaged 360 participants. Conclusion: VECMOS has successfully implemented a scalable, standardised statewide ECMO education framework that supports workforce capability and consistent high-quality ECMO care.