🎙️ VitalGo’s Tilt Talk — Episode: Advancing ECMO Mobility: Inside the New ELSO Rehabilitation & Mobilization Guidelines

Guest: Dr. Stephen Ramsey

In Part 2 of our special series with Dr. Stephen Ramsey, Tilt Talk explores one of the most significant recent advancements in critical care: the development of the ELSO ECMO Rehabilitation and Mobilization Guidelines. As a key contributor, Dr. Ramsey provides an insider’s look at how these landmark guidelines came together—and why they matter now more than ever.

In this episode, we unpack:

    •    The origin story of the guidelines: how the idea formed, the clinical questions that drove the initiative, and the collaborative process that shaped the final document

    •    The multidisciplinary team behind the work, highlighting the global experts who brought diverse perspectives and frontline experience

    •    The evidence base: what current research shows about early mobility, safety, and functional outcomes for ECMO-supported patients

    •    What the guidelines include, from risk stratification to progression pathways to best practices for mobilizing even the sickest patients

    •    Why verticalization matters—and how Dr. Ramsey emphasizes its role as a cornerstone of modern ECMO care, supporting early physiologic engagement and safer mobilization in complex cases

Dr. Ramsey also shares remarkable patient stories that illustrate the power of thoughtful, compassionate, mobility-focused care—from day-one humanization to the moment of discharge. His insights offer both practical guidance and meaningful reminders of the “why” behind advancing rehabilitation in critical care.

Whether you’re implementing ECMO mobility practices or looking to elevate your current program, this episode sheds light on the science, collaboration, and heart behind the newest ELSO standards—and the evolving future of ECMO care.