The hospital has been named a Silver Level Center on the Path to Excellence in Life Support.

HARTFORD, Conn. (January 13, 2025) – Saint Francis Hospital is proud to announce its extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) program has been named by the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) as a Silver Level Center on the Path to Excellence in Life Support. The Excellence in Life Support Award recognizes centers that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to evidence-based processes and quality measures, staff training and continuing education, patient satisfaction, and ongoing clinical care.

“We are honored to be the recipient of this prestigious award highlighting the quality, life-saving care we are able to provide our patients,” said Robert Gallagher, M.D., Chief of Cardiac Surgery for Trinity Health Of New England, who began the ECMO program at Saint Francis in September 2020. “Being recognized by ELSO exemplifies the excellent care we are able to provide to those in the gravest of health emergencies, and reflects the dedication and passion of our care teams.”

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 and/or heart to heal over a period of time by using a heart-lung machine to oxygenate the blood outside the body. A patient may need ECMO if they have experienced cardiac arrest, heart or lung failure, or severe trauma or infection.

An ECMO center designated by ELSO demonstrates extraordinary achievement in 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.

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

The ELSO Awards’ goal is to recognize and honor programs which reach the highest level of performance, innovation, satisfaction, and quality. The Award is a framework for integrating total quality principles in ECMO programs worldwide and assures the program is producing exceptional results.

About Saint Francis Hospital

Saint Francis Hospital has been an anchor institution in Connecticut since 1897. Saint Francis is a member of Trinity Health Of New England and Trinity Health, one of the largest multi-institutional Catholic health care delivery systems in the nation. Saint Francis Hospital, a Level 1 Trauma Center, is a 617-bed hospital, a major teaching hospital, and the largest Catholic hospital in New England. Other Saint Francis entities include the Comprehensive Women’s Health Center, the Connecticut Joint Replacement Institute, the Hoffman Heart and Vascular Institute of Connecticut, the Smilow Cancer Hospital Yale-New Haven at Saint Francis, Trinity Health Of New England Medical Group, and Community Health and Well Being, which includes the Curtis D. Robinson Center for Health Equity, the Joan C. Dauber Food Pantry, and the Greater Hartford Family Advocacy Center. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @SaintFrancisCT