Dear Family Member ,
Having a loved one in the hospital can be a stressful time for you and your family . You are receiving this booklet because your family member is very sick and needs extracorporeal membrane oxygenation ( ECMO ) therapy . We understand that in the intensive care unit ( ICU ), medical terms and devices can be confusing and make things more stressful . It is our hope that this basic information about ECMO and UAB Medicine will answer some common questions and ease some of your stress .
We encourage you to ask our team questions . At the end of this booklet , there is room for you to take notes and write down questions you ’ d like answered . Our goal is to help you understand the care we are providing to your loved one . Please do not hesitate to speak up if something is unclear , and let us know how we can help you during this difficult time .
Sincerely , The UAB Medicine ECMO Care Team uabmedicine . org 1