UPMC Harrisburg Recognized as Gold-Level Center of Excellence Designation for ECMO Program

UPMC Harrisburg has been awarded the prestigious ELSO Gold Center of Excellence designation for 2027. The award from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) recognizes hospitals and medical centers around the world that demonstrate exceptional commitment to evidence-based processes and quality measures, staff training and continuing education, patient satisfaction and ongoing clinical care in the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

“This recognition reflects the extraordinary dedication of our multidisciplinary ECMO team and their unwavering commitment to providing the highest level of care for some of our sickest patients,” says Paul Modelewski, DO, ECMO medical director for UPMC Harrisburg. “Achieving Gold status is the result of years of collaboration, performance improvement and a shared vision to continually advance our program.”

ECMO is an advanced form of life support that temporarily takes over the function of the heart and/or lungs for patients experiencing severe cardiac or respiratory failure, allowing time for recovery or additional treatment.

The UPMC Harrisburg ECMO program began in 2021 through the efforts of a highly committed team of medical intensivists, cardiothoracic surgeons, intensive care cardiologists, critical care advanced practice providers, ICU nurses, ICU pharmacists, respiratory therapists and ECMO specialists. Through a sustained focus on quality improvement and program development, the team transformed the program from performing only a handful of cases annually to becoming one of the state's recognized centers for ECMO excellence.

The program earned ELSO's Silver Center of Excellence designation in 2024 and has now advanced to the organization's Gold Center of Excellence designation for 2027, reflecting significant progress in clinical outcomes, operational excellence and program maturity.

The ELSO Gold Center of Excellence designation is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a marker of excellence among leading institutions. The award will be presented at the 37th Annual ELSO Conference on September 28, 2026, in Nashville, TN.

For more information about UPMC services in central Pennsylvania, visit UPMC.com/CentralPa.