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CHERC – Website Information - FAQ
Mission of the American Heart Association:
The American Heart Association (AHA) is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is: "Building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke."
The AHA’s impact goal is to reduce coronary heart disease, stroke and risk by 25 percent by 2010. Progress toward the goal will be measured according to these indicators:
- Reduce the death rate from coronary heart disease and stroke by 25 percent.
- Reduce the prevalence of smoking, high blood cholesterol and physical inactivity by 25 percent.
- Reduce the rate of uncontrolled high blood pressure by 25 percent.
- Eliminate the growth of obesity and diabetes.
What is the AHA’s Emergency Cardiovascular Care Program?
The AHA’s Emergency Cardiovascular Care Programs deliver a dynamic message of hope — the hope of saving lives. New treatments have improved the possibility of survival from cardiovascular emergencies, cardiac arrest, and stroke. These new treatments offer the hope of improved quality of life for people who suffer these events. Increasing public awareness of the importance of early intervention and ensuring greater public access to defibrillation will save many lives. ECC programs educate healthcare providers, caregivers, and the general public about how to respond to these emergencies. ECC programs train more than 11 million people every year.
Where does the science come from?
All American Heart Association guidelines for adult and pediatric resuscitation are generated by an evidence evaluation process. The basis for these guidelines was accomplished in collaboration with the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR), an international consortium of representatives from many of the world’s resuscitation councils. ILCOR was formed to systematically review resuscitation science and develop an evidence-based consensus to guide resuscitation practice world wide.
What is a Training Center?
The AHA has established a network of Training Centers to broaden its outreach of ECC education courses (ACLS, BLS and PALS) and strengthen the chain of survival.
Training Centers are responsible for the following:
- Proper administration and quality of ECC courses
- Day to day management of their Training Network.
- Providing instructors and training sites with consistent and timely communication of any new or updated information about National/Regional policies, procedures, course content or course administration that could potentially affect an instructor in carrying out his/her responsibilities.
- Serving as the principal informational resource, support and quality control for all AHA instructors.
What course do I need to take?
St. Joseph Regional Medical Center offers courses to Healthcare Professionals (MDs, PA, ARNPs, RNs, LPN/LVNs, EMTs, CNAs, Dental, Respiratory and Radiology Professionals, Etc.) as well as non-healthcare providers (Persons wanting CPR or First aid training).
Healthcare Professionals are required to take the Healthcare specific courses by accreditation organizations, their employer or the state licensing/certification board. In addition to these entities, healthcare professionals SHOULD take the Healthcare level courses because of their scope of practice and their capacity to perform the additional skills taught in the Healthcare specific courses.
For non-healthcare professionals the AHA has developed the HEARTSAVER curriculums. These courses cover CPR, AED and First Aid. There are many different course modules. Some of these courses are “credentialed” and others are “non-credentialed”.
What is the difference between a credentialed and non-credentialed course?
Credentialed courses include formal skills evaluations and a written examination. All Healthcare Courses (CPR for HCP, ACLS, PALS, ACLS-EP) are credentialed courses as well as many of the Heartsaver courses.
A student is provided with an official AHA certification card upon successful completion of a credentialed course. If a card is not issued, the student did not meet the course either requirements or the course was not credentialed.
Example of non-credentialed course:
- CPR for Friends and Family.
Examples of Credentialed Courses:
- Heartsaver First Aid, CPR and AED
- ACLS
- PALS
- ACLS-EP
How long is my certification valid?
All American Heart Association certifications are valid for 2 years. The cards will indicate an issue date and a recommended renewal date. These dates will be recorded with the month and year only per AHA PROAD guidelines. The certification is valid until the last day of the month indicated.
What happens if I lose my card?
Replacement cards may be requested by calling the Training Center. A replacement fee may be charged. When ordering a replacement card please supply the Training Center with date of course, name of instructor, type of course, location of course, etc.
Your replacement card will indicate the exact dates as your original certification card. Expired cards will not be replaced.
Who teaches these courses?
All St. Joseph Regional Medical Center Training Center instructors are instructors are highly skilled instructors that have mastered the skills, completed specific AHA instructor courses, and been evaluated while teaching by Training Center Faculty in accordance with standards set forth by the AHA and PROAD.
When will I receive my certification card?
All training centered sponsored courses will issue certification cards on-site. All BLS courses (Training Center sponsored or not) will be issued by the instructor on site. If you are taking a non-Training Center sponsored ACLS, PALS or ACLS-EP course your card will arrive via your course director or directly to your address that you provide on your data form. AHA allows up to 30 days for card delivery although; cards are normally mailed within five business day of receipt at the Training Center.
When do I receive my text books?
If you order a text book for an ACLS or PALS course the text book will be mailed directly to the address that you provide prior to the course. If you order a BLS textbook it will be provided at the course.
Do I have to purchase a textbook for the course?
All students must have access to the current appropriate AHA course textbook for their individual use during and after the course. Many groups or institutions have a “library” of text books provided by the Training Center. Because the curriculum is constantly being updated and reviewed, there are times when the most current guidelines are not reflected in the most current textbook. The Training Center will advise students as to what the most current textbook is.
Students taking advanced courses are advised to purchase the ECC handbook that contains BLS, ACLS and PALS information in a pocket-sized guide.
Will I have to take a test?
To accurately measure the students understanding of the course material, written examinations are administered for all CREDENTIALED courses. There are a few exceptions to this rule concerning the Heartsaver curriculums. For more information, contact the Training Center. Students must attain a minimum passing score of 85% on the written test to be credentialed.
All courses contain practical skills evaluations in order to evaluate core skills proficiency. Students will be expected to perform these skills on manikins in simulated scenarios.
Non-credentialed courses do not require “official” skills evaluations or written tests however; students are required to practice the skills.
What if I do not pass?
The goal of an AHA course is to prepare students to deliver effective resuscitation. Some students may not meet the course objectives and will need remediation in deficient areas both during and after the course.
Remediation may be accomplished by monitoring and mentoring the student to identify and resolve weaknesses, requesting additional skills practice, assigning additional reading, referring the student to other courses or having the student re-take the written examination or assessment stations to the satisfaction of the Course Director.
Failing this remediation, the Course Director may require the student to retake the entire course.
Who is eligible to take an advanced provider course (ACLS, PALS)?
Historically, ACLS and PALS courses were recommended only for medical providers who were responsible for direct participating or who were in charge of running cardiac arrest events. New guidelines and focus of the curriculums is to educate all members of the healthcare team that may be involved in a resuscitation. Any healthcare provider is eligible to take an ACLS or PALS course. Students are expected to be familiar with the curriculum prior to the course date. Instructors will work with all levels clinicians to ensure that the expectations of their skill level are evaluated during the course.
My card is expired, am I still eligible for a renewal?
Students who present an expired card or do not possess a provider card may challenge a renewal course but WILL NOT BE GIVEN THE OPTION OF REMEDIATION. They will need to re-take the entire initial provider course at their cost if they cannot meet the course completion requirements when evaluated.
Does the Training Center offer onsite, workplace Training?
As a national training center, St. Joseph Regional Medical Center offers on-site ACLS, PALS, and CPR & First Aid programs that can/will be tailored specific to your workplace needs.
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