ACLS Provider Course

The Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Provider Course is designed for healthcare providers who either direct or participate in the resuscitation of a patient, whether in or out of hospital. The AHA developed the ACLS Provider Course for "currently active" healthcare providers whose daily occupation or volunteer activities demand proficiency in the knowledge and skills of ACLS. The goal of the ACLS Provider Course is to improve the quality of care provided to the adult victim of a cardiac arrest or other cardiopulmonary emergency. In this course students will enhance their skills in the treatment of arrest and periarrest patients through active participation in a series of simulated cardiac and respiratory cases. Course is taught by lecture, video and student participation. Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

• Note the key changes in advanced cardiovascular life support, reflecting the 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.
• Recognize and initiate early management of peri-arrest conditions that may result in cardiac arrest or complicate resuscitation outcome.
• Manage cardiac arrest until the return of spontaneous circulation, transfer of care or termination of resuscitation.
• Identify and treat ischemic chest pain and expedite the care of patients with acute coronary syndromes.
• Recognize other life-threatening clinical situations, such as stroke, and provide effective initial care and transfer to reduce disability and death.
• Demonstrate effective communication as a member or leader of a resuscitation team and recognize the impact of team dynamics on overall team performance.
• Demonstrate basic life support skills, including effective chest compressions, use of a bag-mask device and use of an (AED).
• Review the ACLS Secondary Survey.
• Understanding the related pharmacology.
• Understanding the ACLS algorithms.
• Perform effective communication as a member and leader of a resuscitation team.
• Demonstrate effective Resuscitation Team Dynamics.

Proficiency

Providers who take the ACLS Provider Course must be proficient in the following:

• Performing BLS CPR skills using the 2010 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC.
• Reading and interpreting ECGs.
• Understanding ACLS drugs.
• Performing the BLS primary survey and the ACLS secondary survey.
• Completion of pre-course assignment.

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