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ACLS

ACLS Title AT 2020 JREMS English.jpg

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Program

 

Target Group:

 

ACLS is designed for healthcare professionals who either direct or participate in the management of cardiovascular emergencies. This includes personnel in emergency response, emergency medicine, intensive care and critical care units and others who need an ACLS course for job or other requirements. Examples include but not limited to Paramedics, Nurses, Physcians, Respiratory Therapists,  Dental Surgeons, OR Staff, Peri-Operative Staff.

About ACLS:

 

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) is a, video-based, instructor-led, advanced course, which builds on the foundation of basic life support (BLS) skills. Since BLS is crucial in any resuscitation, ACLS continues to emphasize the importance of continuous, high-quality CPR to patient survival, while adding the next level of interventions with high-performance team dynamics and communication, systems of care, recognition and intervention of cardiopulmonary arrest, immediate post-cardiac arrest, acute dysrhythmia, stroke, and acute coronary syndromes. Scientific evidence along with educational research has led to the improved design of the Heart and Stroke Foundation's ACLS Course. As a result the course in design and content  is evidenced based. ACLS skills are taught through discussion, and group learning, and hands on practice. Testing stations offer realistic case-based scenarios. JREMS uses high fidelity simulators (SimMan Essential)  and task trainers to ensure all learning goals are achieved in a medium to high fidelity learning environment.

 

Duration:

 

Traditional two day ACLS Providers Course approximately 12- 14 hours total depending on class size.

 

NEW ACLS Provider has now moved to a blended format ( e-learning at your own pace plus a skills day.)  This is called ACLS Blended Provider Course and teaches the same curriculum and hones the same skills as our traditional, instructor-led course – but on average, it takes less time to complete. The ACLS Blended Provider Course is divided into two parts:
 

Part 1: Online: a self-paced, cognitive learning and assessment program with easy access to a rich array of resources, activities, learning videos, knowledge checks and an electronic exam. Once you have completed the first part of the program you will move on to the in-person portion. 

Part 2: In-class: an instructor-led, classroom-based session where you will benefit from ample opportunity for hands-on skills practice, expert coaching, debriefing, team scenarios and comprehensive skills testing.

     Content:

 

The course is designed to give students the opportunity to practice and demonstrate proficiency in the following skills used in resuscitation:

 

  •  Systematic approach

  •  High-quality BLS

  •  Airway management

  •  Rhythm recognition

  •  Defibrillation

  •  Intravenous (IV)/intraosseous (IO) access (information only)

  •  Use of medications

  •  Cardioversion

  •  Transcutaneous pacing

  •  Team dynamics

 

Students will practice the application of these and other skills in simulated cases and will practice both Team Leader and Team Member roles.

Course Prerequsites:

 

The prerequisite for ACLS Full or Renewal Course is a current Heart and Stroke Basic Life Support card within the last 12 months as outlined in the HSF Instructor Resource Manual. HSFC BLS is the only BLS accepted, no exceptions will be made per HSFC Policy.

 

2.1.5.4 ACLS PROVIDER COURSE

• Provide evidence of successful completion of an HSFC Basic Life Support Course within one year prior to starting the ACLS Provider Course.

• Attend all teaching and evaluation sessions.

• Successfully complete skills evaluation using HSFC checklists

• Obtain 84% or greater on the closed-book, multiple-choice written examination.

• NEW - Complete the ACLS Online Pre-Course Self Assessment - see FAQ's.

 

A copy of your BLS through HSFC will be required and must be presented to the instructor prior to taking the course. If you cannot find your card, or require current BLS  contact the course director via email infojrems@gmail.com

 

Current ACLS or PALS does not indicate your BLS is current.

 

Participants must also be proficient in the following:

 

  •  Performing high-quality BLS skills through the use of the 2020 Guidelines Update for CPR and ECC

  •  Reading and interpreting electrocardiograms (ECGs)- Be able to identify—on a monitor and paper tracing—rhythms associated with bradycardia, tachycardia with adequate perfusion, tachycardia with poor perfusion, and pulseless arrest. These rhythms include but are not limited to:

 

  • Normal sinus rhythm

  •  Sinus bradycardia

  •  Type I second-degree AV block

  •  Type II second-degree AV block

  •  Third-degree AV block

  •  Sinus tachycardia

  •  Supraventricular tachycardias

  •  Ventricular tachycardia

  •  Asystole

  •  Ventricular fibrillation

  •  Organized rhythm without a pulse

 

  •  Understanding ACLS drugs- have a basic understanding of the essential drugs used in:

 

  • Cardiac arrest

  •  Bradycardia

  •  Tachycardia with adequate perfusion

  •  Tachycardia with poor perfusion

  •  Immediate post–cardiac arrest care

 

Links to pre-course study material can be found under Study Links at the top of the page or click on the link below.

Required Student Materials:

  • Provider Manual – print (RE5110E) or eBook (RE5110ED)

  • 2020 Handbook of Emergency Cardiovascular Care for Healthcare Providers 

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