Our Lady of the Lake Health Earns International Award for Life-Saving ECMO Care
October 09, 2025
Recognition places Regional Medical Center among the world’s top programs providing advanced heart-lung life support after just one year.
BATON ROUGE, La. — Our Lady of the Lake Health’s Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) program, a highly specialized treatment that temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs to save the sickest patients, has earned the Silver Path to Excellence Award from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO).
Earning this global distinction after just one year places Our Lady of the Lake Health among a select group of hospitals recognized for delivering the highest quality in advanced heart-lung support. It marks a major milestone for Baton Rouge, ensuring that patients facing life-threatening conditions have access to internationally acclaimed critical care close to home.
“Families in Baton Rouge deserve access to the most advanced, life-saving treatments without having to leave home,” said Chuck Spicer, President, Our Lady of the Lake Health. “This recognition for our ECMO program proves that world-class innovation is happening right here. It is another example of how our mission to extend the healing ministry of Jesus guides everything we do.”
What ECMO Means for Patients
ECMO is used when a patient’s heart or lungs can no longer function on their own. By circulating and oxygenating blood outside the body, the technology allows these vital organs to rest and heal. Since its launch in May 2024, the program has already provided 19 patients with a second chance at life, helping families avoid transfers out of state for this advanced treatment.
“ECMO provides patients with the support they need when traditional treatments are no longer enough,” said Ryan Landry, DNP, VP, Clinical Operations at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. “Receiving this recognition so early in our program’s history highlights the extraordinary dedication of our nurses, physicians, therapists and specialists. I’m proud of their teamwork and grateful for the lives that have been saved through this program.”
About the Award
The ELSO Path to Excellence Awards honor programs worldwide that demonstrate exceptional quality in patient care, outcomes and systems. The award was presented at the 2025 ELSO Annual Conference in Maryland on September 27, where Our Lady of the Lake’s ECMO program leaders proudly accepted the honor on behalf of the Baton Rouge community.
This achievement reinforces Our Lady of the Lake’s role as a leader in critical care, giving Baton Rouge families access to advanced, life-saving treatments close to home.
To learn more about Our Lady of the Lake’s ECMO program and other critical care services, visit ololrmc.com.
About Our Lady of the Lake Health
Our Lady of the Lake Health is a not-for-profit Catholic healthcare ministry based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with more than 7,500 employees committed to serving the Capital Region and building a healthy community through excellence in patient care and education. With an 800-bed Regional Medical Center, a dedicated Children’s Hospital, a 78-bed hospital in Gonzales, Louisiana, two freestanding emergency rooms in outlying parishes, and a 600+ provider Physician Group, Our Lady of the Lake Health provides comprehensive healthcare services for common to complex conditions. Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center is a primary teaching site for graduate medical education programs in partnership with LSU, and is recognized in the areas of heart and vascular, trauma and emergency care, stroke, cancer care, minimally invasive procedures, and more. Our Lady of the Lake is part of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System and is driven by its mission to serve all God’s people, especially those most in need. For more information, visit ololrmc.com.