Are you a health care provider who has taken many ACLS and ACLS recertification courses throughout your career? Do you work with critically ill patients in such places as ER, ICU or prehospital environments? Are you looking for a challenge instead of taking the same ACLS course you always take? The new ACLS for experienced providers course might be the course for you.  This course is officially recognized by the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada.

ACLS EP Description

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support for Experienced Providers (ACLS EP) is a NEW ACLS renewal program designed primarily for seasoned healthcare providers who manage complex cardiovascular, respiratory, and other emergencies and need to renew their ACLS course completion requirements. Through didactic instruction and active participation in case-based scenarios, learners will enhance their skills in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiopulmonary prearrest, arrest, and post-arrest patients.

 Intended Audience:

Physicians and other healthcare professionals who respond to complex cardiovascular, respiratory, and other emergencies are encouraged to attend. The ACLS EP Course is designed to challenge learners in an interactive format, which requires a comprehensive understanding of ACLS algorithms and practice skills. Before registering for an ACLS EP course, the student must have mastered core concepts taught in a standard ACLS course such as rhythm interpretation, pharmacology, defibrillation, cardioversion, pacing, airway management, and high quality CPR.

Course Overview and Design:

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

Systematic approach: BLS, Primary, and Secondary Assessments
High-quality BLS
Airway management
Rhythm recognition
Defibrillation
Use of medications
Cardioversion
Transcutaneous pacing
Team resuscitation concept (Team Leader and team member)

The course is also designed to discuss the following categories of cases through critical thinking and critical decision-making:

Post–cardiac arrest care
Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular emergencies
Clinical pharmacology and toxicology emergencies
Respiratory and metabolic emergencies

Course completion card expiration date:

All Heart and Stroke Foundation ACLS EP course completions cards have an expiration date of two (2) years from the date of completion. 

 ACLS EP Provider Course Prerequisites:

The following are the mandatory Prerequisites required by the Heart & Stroke Foundation for students who take the ACLS EP Course:

•       A current Heart & Stroke BLS course completion card (taken within 12 months and current to the most recent Guidelines) a copy is required to be emailed to ACE 1 week prior to course attendance

•       A current Heart & Stroke ACLS course completion card (taken within the last 24 months and current to the most recent Guidelines) a copy is required to be emailed to ACE 1 week prior to course attendance

•       All ACLS EP students must successfully complete the online ACLS EP Entrance Exam with a minimum score of 84%, and provide a copy of the exam results to the Course coordinator at the beginning of the course. A copy of the exam results must be given to the Course coordinator at the beginning of the course

The mandatory ACLS EP Entrance Exam requires a passing score of 84% or higher to print the certificate. Students will have 2 attempts to complete the exam with each purchase of the ACLS EP Entrance Exam key.

Required Student Materials: 

Only Heart & Stroke branded ACLS EP materials are accepted for use in courses where a Heart & Stroke Foundation ACLS EP completion card is issued. You must have an official ACLS EP manual to study from. The ACLS EP textbook can be purchased at the Heart & Stoke’s Heart Shop: https://resuscitation.heartandstroke.ca/heartshop.

A limited number of ACLS EP textbooks are available and can be loaned to you for a fee of $10 (plus shipping). The textbook must be returned to the course coordinator at the end of the course or the full price of the textbook will be charged to you.

 Required Student Materials:

·  The Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support for Experienced Providers Manual and Resource Text (ACLS EP Manual) - print or eBook (RE5710E or RE5710ED) 

CME Credits

MAINPRO Credits (CFPC)
Eligible for 0.5 Mainpro-C credits per hour of participation. A copy of your certification card needs to be submitted. For more details, visit the College of Family Physicians of Canada Mainpro website.

MAINPORT Credits (RCPSC)
Eligible for credit under Section 2 (Self-Learning Activities) “Traineeship”. Enter the number of hours you participated in the course (these will be doubled in your credits). For more details, visit the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Mainport: website.

Course Cost $275 plus tax

Course Dates for ACLS EP:

• Saturday February 16, 2019, Toronto General Hospital (special intro cost of $195 for this course only)