This course is taught to the internationally accepted guidelines of the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada. Both Provider and Renewal courses are available.

Important Notes:

• HSFC’s policy clearly states the pre-requisite for ACLS enrolment is current Health Care Provider BLS certification. No exceptions.

• HSFC further states that successful retraining must be completed every two years to maintain active ACLS Provider status.

• Your Stripe receipt is your official receipt.

Sufficient time is available during the course only to review all the relevant material, not to teach it. Advance preparation is required.

Information is provided using interactive lectures, demonstrations & hands-on practice. Plenty of time is allotted for practical application of the learned concepts in small group settings. Learners are encouraged to understand “why” certain interventions are appropriate rather than just memorizing protocols.

Topics covered include:

• The general approach to the patient

• Primary & secondary surveys

• Pharmacologic agents used in resuscitation

• Recognition & treatment of life-threatening arrhythmias

• Advanced airway management techniques

• Management of adult patients in pre & post arrest situations

• Management of adult patients in cardiac & respiratory arrest

• Electrical therapies including defibrillation, synchronized cardioversion and transcutaneous pacing

• Management of patients with tachycardias, bradycardias, asystole or PEA

• Recognition & treatment of a variety of Acute Coronary Syndromes

Upon completion of this course, learners will be able to:

• Recognize & appropriately treat patients suffering from cardiac complaints such as angina, myocardial infarct, heart failure, cardiogenic shock or dysrhythmias

• Recognize lethal dysrhythmias

• Demonstrate knowledge of both chemical and electrical treatment modalities

• Demonstrate a knowledge of advanced airway techniques

• Comfortably assist with the resuscitation of an adult in cardiac or respiratory arrest

Learners are evaluated on their practical knowledge & skills application on a continuous basis at the workstations. Emphasis is placed on safety, positive feedback & confidence building. Individualized formal “Mega Code” evaluations are not utilized.

ACLS Renewal course participants are required to have a current Heart and Stroke Foundation ACLS provider course completion card (expires at two years from last course date), and a current Heart and Stroke Foundation Health Care Provider BLS provider course completion card (expires at one year from last course date). Heart and Stroke only accepts their own BLS certification and therefore all other BLS certifications are not considered valid as a ACLS course pre-requisite.

Have you ever wondered what those squiggly lines mean on a cardiac rhythm tracing? Well then, this is the course for you! Learn a systematic, easy approach to cardiac rhythm interpretation.

Topics covered include:

• Review of cardiac anatomy & physiology

• Review of the cardiac conduction system

• Placement of monitoring leads

• Determination of cardiac rate

• Determination of cardiac rhythms including

  • Atrial, supraventricular, junctional, ventricular and paced rhythms

  • AV nodal blocks

  • Premature beats including PACs, PJCs & PVCs

  • Bundle branch blocks

  • Identification of ST segment elevation, depression and/or T wave abnormalities

• Review of the many causes & treatments of each type of rhythm

(aka Making Sense of all those Chicken Scratches!!)

Have you ever wanted to learn how to read 12 lead ECG’s but were too intimidated by the perceived difficulty of the material? Well the best learning experience has arrived!

Learn an easy, logical approach to 12 lead ECG interpretation which will allow you to both retain and apply necessary information. Ample time is allotted throughout the day for small group and individual practice of key concepts.

You must come prepared to laugh, learn and have fun.

A comprehensive workbook is provided to each participant on the day of the course. Topics covered include:

• Review of Acute Coronary Syndromes

• Indications for performing a 12 lead ECG

• Indications for performing a 15 lead ECG

• Recognition & treatment of acute ischemic events including STEMIs & Non-STEMIs

• How to correctly perform 12 lead, 15 lead & R sided ECG’s

• A logical, organized approach for interpreting 12 lead, 15 lead & R sided ECGs

• Treatments for acute MI including thrombolytic therapy, angioplasty & stenting

• Common complications with acute MI

At the end of the day you will be able to determine the characteristics of:

• A normal ECG

• Cardiac tissue ischemia or infarction

• Location of infarct & likely potential complications

• Bundle Branch Block

• Axis Deviations

• Heart chamber enlargement

• Cardiac rhythm interpretation

• Pericarditis