Critical care pharmacy service provision and workforce in adult extracorporeal membrane oxygenation centres: a multicentre cross-sectional survey

There is good evidence describing pharmacy workforce and service provision in general critical care units. However, no data exist from adult extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) centres.

To describe workforce characteristics, pharmacy service provision, and pharmaceutical care activities in critical care units (CCUs) providing an adult ECMO service in the United Kingdom (UK) and compare to national staffing standards for CCUs.

We conducted a multicentre, cross-sectional electronic survey inviting one pharmacy professional response per UK ECMO centre. We collated information on workforce, service provision, and pharmaceutical care activities provided by pharmacy teams in adult CCUs with an ECMO service.

The survey response rate was 90.9%: representatives of 10/11 tertiary hospitals providing ECMO services responded. Median critical care pharmacist to critical care bed was 1:12.1 (IQR: 1:9.4–1:14.9). Most centres (90.0%) did not meet national standards for pharmacy professionals to critical care bed staffing ratios for weekday services. Total critical care beds covered by the critical care pharmacy team varied across the UK: median (IQR) – 45 (37–80) beds. Two centres funded pharmacist time for ECMO activity, and one centre funded a pharmacy technician post. Median peak ECMO activity was 4 ECMO patients in a single day (IQR: 3–5). Most respondents reported reduced pharmacy service at weekends compared to weekday, with limited on-site support.

Most responding ECMO centres in the UK reported pharmacy staffing ratios below nationally agreed critical care standards. There was high variability in clinical pharmacy services to ECMO patients over 7 days.