USA Health Providence Hospital first to bring lifesaving ECMO care to Mobile
Posted on February 4, 2026 by Michelle Ryan-Day
USA Health Providence Hospital has launched a new program that brings lifesaving care closer to patients in southwest Alabama. The west Mobile hospital now offers Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), an advanced therapy that temporarily supports the heart and lungs for patients with severe, potentially reversible cardiac or respiratory failure.
“As the leading academic health system serving the upper Gulf Coast, USA Health has a responsibility to bring the highest level of care to our region,” said Natalie Fox, DNP, CEO of USA Health. “The addition of ECMO at Providence Hospital means critically ill patients no longer have to leave their community to access this lifesaving technology.”
This program is funded in part by the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), administered by the Mobile County Commission. The Mobile County Commission received approximately $80.26 million in SLFRF funds to address pandemic-related public health challenges, infrastructure needs, and economic recovery. The county commission’s Strategic Spending Plan guided investments toward projects with a direct impact on health and safety, including ECMO services.
“The launch of the ECMO program at USA Health Providence Hospital is a major step forward for healthcare in Mobile County,” said Randall Dueitt, District 3 commissioner. “By investing in advanced, lifesaving services like this, we’re ensuring that our residents can receive the highest level of critical care close to home when every minute matters.”
ECMO temporarily takes over the work of the heart and lungs by circulating blood through a pump and oxygenator, adding oxygen, and removing carbon dioxide. While it does not treat the underlying disease, ECMO provides critical support while organs recover or serves as a bridge to transplant or other definitive therapies.
“USA Health is fulfilling a promise to our community by providing world-class care, right here at home,” said Rick Metzger, MMHC, BSN, CEO of Providence Hospital. “Having timely access to this advanced treatment will save more lives and allow patients to have the comfort and support of their family and support system as their body heals during times of extreme illness.”
Prior to this initiative, no healthcare providers in Mobile or Baldwin County offered ECMO services, requiring patients to travel to Birmingham or out of state, often at significant risk and inconvenience. USA Health is fulfilling the urgent need to provide local access to advanced cardiopulmonary care.
“Our ability to integrate specialized clinical care, education, and research allows us to deliver complex therapies that significantly improve outcomes for patients across the Gulf Coast,” Fox said.
The service is supported by a 24/7, ECMO-trained multidisciplinary team, including surgeons, critical care physicians, perfusionists, ICU nurses, and respiratory therapists, with streamlined referral and transfer processes.
“As we strive to deliver the most advanced cardiothoracic care in our region, having ECMO support will allow our team of highly skilled physicians to take on the most complex patient cases right here in our community,” Metzger said. “This is just one more example of USA Health's commitment to helping people lead longer, better lives.”
To request an ECMO consult, please contact the Transfer Center at 1-833-USA-STAT to be connected directly with an ECMO physician who will assist with the necessary arrangements.