In high-stakes medical emergencies, time is everything. For patients in need of ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation)—a life-saving therapy used when the heart and lungs can no longer function on their own—delays in access can mean the difference between life and death. Yet across Arizona, ECMO machines are limited, and information about their availability is often fragmented.
One EPICS team set out to change that.
A First-of-Its-Kind Solution
The team’s project, ECMO Bridge, tackles a critical gap in healthcare coordination. Their platform is uniquely designed to manage ECMO-specific care while integrating a live database of machine availability and enabling real-time communication between hospitals. As one team member explained, “our solution is unique because no other health software is managing ECMO-specific care with a live database of machine availability and interhospital communication.”
By centralizing this information, the team aims to improve transparency, streamline decision-making, and ensure that patients receive life-saving treatment faster. At its core, the mission is simple but impactful: reduce delays in care and ease the burden on physicians making urgent, high-stakes decisions.
From Broken Code to Breakthrough Innovation
When the current team inherited the project, it was barely functional. The website wouldn’t run locally, the codebase was disorganized, and progress had stalled for years. Rather than trying to fix a broken system, the team made the difficult decision to rebuild everything from scratch.
Through an intensive design sprint, they redefined the project’s mission and rebuilt the platform with a clear focus on real-world users—physicians and patients. Reflecting on this turning point, a team leader shared, “we reinvented the website… starting from 0 lines of code with a new mission and vision.”
This reset allowed them to develop a minimum viable product that aligned with stakeholder needs and laid the foundation for future growth.
Every aspect of ECMO Bridge was designed with usability in mind. The team worked closely with healthcare professionals to ensure the platform is intuitive, efficient, and reliable in time-sensitive scenarios. As one member noted, “physicians are going to be using our platform during time-sensitive moments, so it’s important that they can use our site with ease.”
From clean, professional interface design to backend functionality that supports real-time data, the system reflects both technical precision and user-centered thinking.
Team members contributed across all areas—whether it was overhauling the backend, refining the frontend experience, fixing UI bugs, or developing pitch materials. Their combined efforts resulted in a cohesive product that balances functionality with accessibility.
A Team That Became a Family
The path to success wasn’t straightforward. The team faced multiple setbacks, including early pitch competition losses and critical feedback from healthcare leaders that forced them to rethink and refine their approach. One member recalled a pivotal moment: “we met with the head of health for Arizona and she completely ripped our project apart.”
Instead of getting discouraged, they used every challenge as an opportunity to improve. That persistence ultimately paid off. The team gained recognition and secured funding through multiple competitions, including winning an additional $4,000 at Venture Devils and earning first place at the EPICS Elite Pitch Competition.
Reflecting on their journey, one team member shared, “when we finally stood on stage and won, it validated not just the idea, but the process we had committed to.” In total, they raised nearly $7,500 in seed funding—validating both their idea and their execution.
Beyond the technical achievements, the strength of ECMO Bridge lies in its team. With a clear division between frontend and backend responsibilities, the group maintained strong communication and accountability across all areas of development.
Over time, collaboration turned into camaraderie. Long hours spent building, pitching, and problem-solving brought the team closer together, creating a supportive environment where everyone was invested in the project’s success. As one student put it, “we always joke that we’re an ‘ECMO Bridge Family’—but we truly are.”
What started as a group of students evolved into a tight-knit team driven by a shared purpose.
Growth Beyond the Classroom
For many team members, ECMO Bridge was more than just a project—it was a transformative experience. Students gained hands-on exposure to solving real-world problems, working with healthcare stakeholders, and building solutions that have tangible impact.
The experience also fostered professional growth, from developing technical skills to gaining confidence in pitching, leadership, and collaboration. As one student reflected, “this project really helped me with my thought process and how I should go about tackling different parts of a problem.”
For some, it even opened doors to internships and career opportunities.
Looking Ahead
ECMO Bridge represents more than innovation—it represents possibility. With continued interest from healthcare professionals and organizations across Arizona, the platform has the potential to significantly improve how critical care resources are managed.
At its heart, the project is about making a difference. As one team member shared, “this project means knowing that I got a chance to make a difference in healthcare and help create software that has the potential to save lives.”
By addressing inefficiencies in ECMO allocation and communication, this EPICS team is working toward a future where patients can access life-saving care faster—and where technology plays a key role in saving lives.