Basic Facts Regarding Acls Houston Residents May Wish To Know

By Tamika Quinn


If considering taking a course in acls Houston residents need to know a number of things beforehand. ACLS is an abbreviation for Advanced Cardiac Life Support, a set of clinical interventional procedures aimed at resuscitating patients going into cardiac or pulmonary collapse or any other similar medical emergencies. Learners are imparted with the requisite skills and knowledge to intervene whenever the need arises.

Advanced cardiac life support training is highly recommended for healthcare professionals who are often faced with emergency situations requiring them to manage cardiovascular emergencies. Personnel most likely to benefit include those who offer emergency response, those in emergency medicine, intensive care units and critical care units.

The students are expected to gain basic life skills that include effective chest compression, the use of bag and mask, airway management, effective communication as members of a team or team leaders. They should be able to recognise and manage respiratory and cardiac arrest promptly. Related conditions such as symptomatic bradycardia that occur around the time of cardiac arrest should also be recognised and treated early.

An initial provider course takes between 10 and 12 hours. During this time participants are taught various skills, they are given an opportunity to practise them and are tested by the trainers. If one was previously trained and need to renew their qualification, this takes much shorter (usually 5-6hours). It is recommended that every instructor handles 6 students using 2 manikins. Classroom-based approach may also be used. In such a setting, video images are used to help in the acquisition of skills.

Ideally, a number of stations are set up to be used by the learners. At each station, a student is expected to learn a particular skill. They are provided with a clinical scenario to which they are expected to respond appropriately by instituting the required interventional measures. All these scenarios require the students to participate actively as a way of reinforcing the learnt skills. The classroom-based approach may be used for learners who can interact as groups and give feedback to the instructors.

Once the course has been completed successfully, the participant is issued with a course completion card. To get this card, students need to demonstrate skills competency in the required stations, they have to pass the CPR and AED skills and should also be skilled in bag and mask ventilation. An additional requirement is that they must pass a Megacode test as well as a written test. The card is valid for two years beyond which a renewal course must be undertaken.

Since the practice of medicine is a highly dynamic field, certified practitioners should keep refreshing their skills and knowledge by undertaking continuous education. This will help them remain updated with the most current protocols. The American Heart Association (AHA) facilitates this continuous education but there are other bodies that have been accredited to offer the same as well. Accreditation is done by the CECBEMS (Continuing Education Coordinating Board for Emergency Medical Services).

There are two types of acls Houston residents can enrol in. These are the HeartCode ACLS and the ACLS experienced provider. Whichever of these two one chooses, the important thing to remember is that extensive knowledge and hands-on practice is needed to master either of them. After a review of guidelines done by the AHA in 2010, Basic Life Support, BLS, is currently recognised as a key component of ACLS and individuals intending to be trained in ACLS will be well advised to have prior training in BLS.




About the Author: