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MUSC receives life support award for ECMO MUSC has received the “Excellence in Life Support Award” from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO), an international consortium of centers offering ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) for support of failing organ systems in infants, children and adults. MUSC is one of 115 international centers that offer ECMO, and the only hospital in South Carolina to offer the life-saving treatment.   ECMO is one of the most advanced forms of life support available to patients experiencing acute failure of the cardio-respiratory system. ECMO allows time for the patient’s lungs or heart to heal by using a heart-lung machine to oxygenate and purify the blood outside the body during a period of time.   The Excellence in Life Support Award recognizes those centers that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to evidence-based processes and quality measures, staff training and continuing education, patient satisfaction, and ongoing clinical research. MUSC is one of few centers to receive the Excellence in Life Support Award since its inception in 2006.   “The award serves as recognition for the dedicated team effort at MUSC to provide excellence in patient care for ECMO patients,” said Dilip Purohit, M.D., medical director for ECMO.   The award ceremony will take place at the 18th Annual ELSO Conference in Nashville, Tenn.     Friday, Sept. 14, 2007 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.