Access Key for HeartCode® ACLS

Course Overview

ACLS builds on the foundation of lifesaving basic life support (BLS) skills, emphasizing the importance of continuous, high-quality CPR. This advanced course highlights the importance of high-performance team dynamics and communication; systems of care; and recognition of and intervention in cardiopulmonary arrest, immediate post-cardiac arrest, acute dysrhythmia, stroke, and acute coronary syndromes (ACS). 

The ACLS course is designed for healthcare professionals who either direct or participate in the management of cardiopulmonary arrest or other cardiovascular emergencies. This includes personnel in emergency response, emergency medicine, intensive care, and critical care units -- such as physicians, nurses, and paramedics -- as well as others who need an ACLS course completion card for job or other requirements.

Before taking the ACLS course, students must pass the online ACLS Precourse Self-Assessment with a score of 70% or higher. This test is part of the ACLS student Web site (access granted with purchase of the HeartCode ACLS access key).

After successfully completing the ACLS course, students should be able to:

• apply the BLS, Primary, and Secondary Assessments sequence 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
• recognize and perform early management of respiratory arrest
• discuss early recognition and management of ACS and stroke, including appropriate disposition
• recognize and perform early management of bradyarrhythmias and tachyarrhythmias that may result in cardiac arrest or complicate resuscitation outcomes
• recognize and perform early management of cardiac arrest until termination of resuscitation or transfer of care, including immediate post-cardiac-arrest care
• model effective communication as a member or leader of a high-performance team
• evaluate resuscitative efforts during a cardiac arrest through continuous assessment of CPR quality, monitoring the patient's physiologic response, and delivering real-time feedback to the team
• recognize the impact of team dynamics on overall team performance
• discuss how the use of a rapid response team or medical emergency team may improve patient outcomes
• define systems of care.

For successful course completion, students must:

• demonstrate skills competency in all learning stations
• pass the high-quality BLS skills test
• pass the bag-mask ventilation with OPA/NPA insertion skills test
• pass the Megacode test
• pass the ACLS exam with a score of 84% or higher. 

Upon successful completion of all requirements, students receive an ACLS course completion card.

Key Features and Benefits

HeartCode ACLS is the online portion of the ACLS course when taken in a blended-learning format. It uses a variety of eLearning assets -- such as dramatizations, eSimulations, animations, self-directed learning, and interactive activities -- to teach students ACLS knowledge and skills. To enter the course, students must complete the online ACLS Precourse Self-Assessment. After completing HeartCode ACLS, including passing the online exam with a score of 84% or higher, students attend a structured Instructor-led classroom session that focuses on meaningful skills practice, debriefing, and skills testing. 

Course features and benefits:

• Includes 10 in-hospital patient cases 
• eSimulation cases include:
  • 1 BLS case
  • 7 cardiovascular, respiratory, and stroke cases
  • 2 megacode cases
• Summary of critical concepts provided for each eSimulation case
• Virtual debriefings provided immediately after each eSimulation
• Videos include:
  • Systematic Approach
  • Science of Resuscitation
  • High-Quality BLS
  • Airway Management
  • Acute Coronary Syndromes
  • Stroke
  • Team Dynamics
  • Megacode (2)
  • IO
  • Algorithms (4)
• Provides online access to:
  • the Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Provider Manual
  • the 2015 Handbook Of Emergency Cardiovascular Care For Healthcare Providers
  • the precourse self-assessment
• Multiple-choice, 50-question exam to test cognitive knowledge
• Certificate of completion that grants access to the classroom portion is available to print after HeartCode ACLS modules and simulations, exam, and course evaluation have been completed successfully
• Eligibility for continuing education credit
  • physicians -- American Heart Association designates this enduring material for a maximum of 4.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
  • physician assistants -- AAPA accepts certificates of participation for educational activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by ACCME or a recognized state medical society. Physician assistants may receive a maximum of 4.50 hours of Category I credit for completing this program.
  • nurse practitioners -- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by ACCME (must be claimed within 6 months of attendance).
  • nurses -- The maximum number of hours awarded for this CE activity is 4.50 contact hours (must be claimed within 6 months of attendance).
  • pharmacists -- ACPE Credit: 4.50 Contact Hours. Universal Program Number: 0256-0000-16-840-H01-P (must be claimed within 30 days of participation).
  • emergency medical services -- This continuing education activity is approved by American Heart Association, an organization accredited by the Continuing Education Coordinating Board for Emergency Medical Services (CECBEMS), for 4.50 Advanced CEHs, activity number 16-AMHA-F3-0318 (must be claimed within 6 months of attendance).

Includes access to all HeartCode ACLS information for 24 months following activation of the course key.

E-LEARNING/ONLINE COURSES:

• NO REFUND (whether partial or whole) will be issued after registration has been done.
• Please contact AHA (1-888-242-8883 or help@onlineaha.org) for any technical issues.
• Exchanging from an online course to a physical in-class course is NOT PERMITTED under any circumstances.