Short Courses

RATIONALE/ PURPOSE

It has long been established from research that survival of acute events leading to cardiac arrest depends on immediate, effective resuscitation by skilled persons. A set of evidence-based skills on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was designed by the American Heart Association in 2005. Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) courses were designed to impart these. Teemane Health also designed First Aid courses at different levels to meet the needs of everyone and strengthen the health system of Botswana. All HealthCare Providers need to be equipped with BLS and ACLS Knowledge and skills to be competent. Recent completion of the BLS and ACLS courses is therefore a prerequisite for employment of nurses, doctors, paramedics. Auxiliaries, pharmacists to mention a few.

American Heart Association (AHA (2020 CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular (ECC) Guidelines) reported that every Ninety seconds, someone dies from cardiac arrest. This necessitates everyone to be able to quickly recognize the need for CPR, quickly activate Emergency Response System and quickly perform CPR straight away. Otherwise if not, the chances of survival are compromised.

BLS and ACLS courses are internationally recognized, so successful candidates become certified BLS and ACLS providers. This means they are expected to carry out competent CPR in their work situations as required. The advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Provider Course is designed for healthcare providers who either direct or participate in the management of cardiopulmonary arrest or other cardiovascular emergencies
ACLS is the American Heart Association (AHA) course.  Through the didactic instruction and active participation in simulated cases, students will enhance their skills in the recognition and intervention of cardiopulmonary arrest,, immediate post cardiac arrest, acute arrhythmia, stroke and acute coronary syndromes(ACS).

The goal of the ACLS provider course is to improve outcomes for adult patients of cardiac arrest and other cardiopulmonary emergencies through early recognition and interventions by high performance teams

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Apply the Basic Life Support, Primary, Secondary Assessment sequences for a systematic evaluation of adult patients
• Perform prompt high quality BLS; including prioritizing early chest compressions and integrating early automated external defibrillator (AED) use.
• Manage Respiratory arrest
• Recognize and manage  patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes(ACS), including appropriate disposition
• Recognize and manage patients with stroke, including appropriate disposition
• Recognize and manage patients with bradyarrythmias and tacharrhythmias that may result in cardiac arrest or complicate resuscitation outcome
• Recognize cardiac arrest
• Perform early management of  cardiac arrest until termination of resuscitation or transfer of care
• Evaluate resuscitative efforts during a cardiac arrest through continuous assessment of cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) quality, monitoring the patient’s psychologic response, and delivering real time feedback to the team
• Communicate effectively as a member or leader of high performance teams
• Emphasize the impact of team dynamics on overall team performance
• Perform as an effective team member during multirescuer  CPR – able to exercise the following; clear roles, mutual respect, administer correct drugs and doses, manage the airway, deliver effective compressions and breaths, communicate effectively, intervene constructively, know their limitations, summarise and evaluate and debrief at the end of the resuscitation attempt
• Empower other healthcare providers on advanced  knowledge and skills
• Renew their ACLS provider status every 2 years to remain certified as an ACLS provider, confident and competent
• Perform high quality CPR and use AED as soon as it is available
• Be able to perform CPR as a Member of The Multierescuer team. Apply the resuscitative team concepts during a Megacode
• Assume the leadership role during CPR and coordinate the whole resuscitation ongoing
• Participate effectively during the resuscitation megacode

TARGET AUDIENCE

• Healthcare providers who either direct or participate in the management of cardiopulmonary arrest or other cardiovascular emergencies in hospital or out of hospital settings.
• Nurses. Doctors, Paramedics

ENTRANCE REQUIMENTS

• Valid Basic life Support( BLS)

DELIVERY MODE 

• Blended Learning
  • Online Theory
  • Classroom( Practical component)

ASSESSMENT

• Written Test (Pass Mark 84 %)
• Skills Test: 
  1. Adult High Quality CPR and AED
  2. Management of Respiratory Arrest
  3. Megacode( Participating as a team leader and a team member)
     NB: One has to pass both the Theory and Practical test to complete the course.
• Evaluation Feedback received from participants  upon completion of the course
• Provision of learner support through question and answer review sessions 

CERTIFICATION

•  Internationally recognized University of Botswana Provider Certificate, Valid for 2 years.