EMS 250 - Advanced Cardiac Life Support

Offered SM
Lecture- 0.5 Lab/Studio- 0.5
0.8 credit hrs/1 contact hrs
Prerequisite: Completion of all EMS courses with a “C” or better (2.0 out of a 4.0 scale)
The Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) course is designed to build on the Basic Life Support (BLS) concepts taught in the Paramedic program. ACLS teaches clinical interventions to respond to cardiac arrest, stroke, and other life-threatening medical emergencies. The Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) course is designed to provide instruction with a focus on highlighting the importance of team dynamics and communication, systems of care and immediate post-cardiac-arrest care. This course utilizes both didactic and simulation methodologies to provide coverage of cardiac emergencies and commonly encountered dysrhythmias in addition to airway management and management of patients with acute cerebral vascular pathology (stroke) and the initial care, management, and related pharmacology in both the pre and in-hospital settings. This course provides teaching and evaluation in keeping with standards of care and current guidelines as set forth by the American Heart Association.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Conduct evaluation of adult patients.
Discuss how the use of a rapid response team improves treatment efforts.
Recognize and manage cardiac arrest.
Discuss early recognition and management of stroke, including appropriate response.
Recognize bradycardias and tachycardias that may result in cardiac arrest or complicate resuscitation outcome.
Use effective communication as a member of a rapid response team.
Recognize the impact of team dynamics on overall team performance.
Recognize respiratory arrest.
Conduct early management of respiratory arrest.
Perform prompt, high-quality BLS including prioritizing early chest compressions.
Manage automated external defibrillator (AED) use.
Complete early management of cardiac arrest until termination of resuscitation or transfer of care, including immediate post–cardiac arrest care.
Evaluate resuscitative efforts during a cardiac arrest through continuous assessment of quality of CPR.
Monitor patient’s physiologic response to emergency cardiac interventions.
Deliver real-time feedback to the rapid response team