CARE SIG ECMO and Pediatric Early Mobility Course
This course will review the current evidence regarding the indications for early mobility in the
pediatric ICU. We will discuss inclusion/exclusion criteria when considering early mobilization in
the pediatric population. The course will focus on mobilizing patients on ECMO and include an
overview of ECMO, including differences between VA vs. VV ECMO and implications for
rehabilitation. We will discuss the process of mobilizing patients on ECMO with an emphasis on
safety. Lastly, we will review 2 case examples to include both the infant/toddler population and
the teenage/young adult population.
Course Objectives:
Following this course, the learner will: Understand the evidence behind early mobility in the
pediatric population. Understand how to determine when a patient is appropriate to participate in
early mobility. Have a broad understanding of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, its use in
the pediatric ICU, and implications for early mobilization. Lastly, the learner will have improved
knowledge on how to safely mobilize patients on ECMO.
Kimberly Didsbury, PT, DPT (Children’s Hospital Colorado)
Dr. Kimberly Didsbury, PT, DPT graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2019 with a
Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. She received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the
University of Connecticut in 2022. Kim has been practicing at Children’s Hospital Colorado since
2023 after working in adult acute care at SkyRidge Medical Center. Kim started her career at
Children’s working in inpatient rehab before transitioning full time to the Pediatric ICU and
Oncology teams in 2024. Dr. Didsbury is passionate about promoting mobility in the ICU both in
a rehabilitative/restorative role and within a palliative lens for our oncology population. She has
presented at Children’s annual PT training day on the role of physical therapy within palliative
care in 2025 and on early mobility in the PICU in 2026. In her spare time she loves running,
hiking, and snowboarding as well as trying new local coffee shops with her fiance.