advanced cardiac life support

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)

Updated/Revised 21 MAY 2011

Course Prerequisites and Preparation:

Initial Course: Current BLS Healthcare Provider (CPR), AHA ACLS Guidelines 2010 Provider Textbook and completion of the AHA ACLS pre-course assignment. Submission of the pre-course assignment is required upon entry to course.

Update Course: Current BLS Healthcare Provider (CPR). AHA ACLS Guidelines 2010 Provider Textbook, current or recently expired AHA ACLS Provider Card and completion of AHA ACLS pre-course assignment. Submission of the pre-course assignment is required upon entry to the course.

The American Heart Association added a student website to the 2010 materials and contains the following self-assessment and supplementary resources: ACLS Rhythm Identification, ACLS Pharmacology, Practical Application of ACLS Algorithms, ACLS Supplementary Information, CPR and AED Skills, ACS video, Stroke video, ACLS Science Overview, and Intraosseous (IO) animation.

Continuing Education Credits:

The Initial Course is 12 - 15 hours in length. The post-course completion letter will afford the successful participant 12.0 - 15.0 Continuing Education Hours (CEH) or Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits. The National Registry of EMTs accepts the course completion card/letter for up to 15.0 CEH toward registration renwal, depending up on the number of hours indicated on the document. The TN EMS Division automatically accepts the Course Completion Letter for up to 1.5 CEU toward licensure renewal, depending upon the number of hours indicated on the letter.

The Update Course is usually 3 - 5 hours in length. The post-course completion letter will afford the successful participant 3.0 - 5.0 Continuing Education Hours (CEH) or Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits. The National Registry of EMTs accepts the course completion card/letter for up to 3.0 - 5.0 CEH toward registration renwal, depending upon the number of hours indicated on the document. The TN EMS Division automatically accepts the Update Course Completion Letter for up to 0.8 CEU toward licensure renewal, depending upon the number of hours indicated on the letter.

Intended Audience:

Initial Course: The ACLS Provider course is designed for healthcare professionals who direct or participate in the resuscitation of a patient either in or out of hospital. Participants who enter the course must have the basic knowledge and skills to participate actively with the instructor and other students. Students may include paramedics, nurses, respiratory therapists, mid-level providers, physicians, and other professionals who may provide advaced cardiac life support in a cardiovascular emergency.

Update Course: This course is designed healthcare professionals who have a current ACLS Provider card and need to update and refresh their ACLS skills. This course is primarily focused on skills competency testing.

Course Details

The goal of the ACLS Provider Course is to improve outcomes for adult patients with cardiac arrest or other cardiopulmonary emergencies through provider training.

The course provides the knowledge and skills needed to evaluate and manage the first 10 minutes of an adult cardiovascular emergency. Application of the following will be discussed and evaluated in both written and practical application formats: BLS Skills; ECG Rhythm Interpretation fo Core ACLS Rhythms (Sinus, A-Fib/Flutter, Bradycardia, Tachycardia, AV Block, Asystole, PEA, V-Tach, and V-Fib); Basic ACLS Drug and Pharmacology Knowledge; Practical Application of ACLS Rhythms and Drugsp; and Effective Resuscitation Team Concepts. Learning methods include: simulated clinical scenarios, demonstrations by instructors or video, discussion and role playing, and practice in effective resuscitation team behaviors.

Through didactic instruction and active participation in simulated cases, students will enhance their skills in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiopulmonary arrest, acute arrhythmia, stroke, and acute coronary syndromes.

Participants are responsible for presenting to the course well-prepared and with an understanding of Basic Life Support (CPR), ECG Interpretation/Arrhythmia Recognition, and ACLS Pharmacology into the ACLS Algorithms. These topics are not taught, only reinforced, in the AHA ACLS Provider Course.

At the end of the course, participants will be presented with a Megacode evaluation station to validate achievement of the course objectives. A simulated cardiac arrest scenario will evaluate the following: knowledge of the core case material and skills, knowledge of algorithms, understanding fo arrhythmia interpretation, use of appropriate basic ACLS drug therapy, and performance as an effective team leader.

Course Fees

Pre-registration and pre-payment is required for either course. Initial course fees include: AHA ACLS Provider Textbook, Quick Reference Chart, access to the AHA ACLS Student web-site, letter for CME/CEH/CEU credit, and AHA course completion card.

The update course does not include the AHA ACLS Provider Textbook. This book can be purchased for $49.00, including tax and priority mail shipping.