Emergency Services Programs

American Heart Association (AHA) Curriculum

Requirements

  • Heart Saver First Aid & AED: The Heart saver first aid course provides first responders with training in basic first aid procedures-including the first aid skills recommended by OSHA. This course is 8 contact or clock hours.
  • BLS—Basic Life Support (BLS): Healthcare Provider: BLS has been proven to be the key to resuscitation. The courses are video-enhanced and designed to provide rescuers the ability to recognize and initiate management for several life-threatening emergencies, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), use an AED and relieve choking in a safe, timely and effective manner. This course is 4.5 contact or clock hours.
  • BLS—Basic Life Support Recertification: The course is comprised of retraining that focus on BLS information that has been proven to be the key to resuscitation. The courses are video-enhanced and designed to provide rescuers the ability to recognize and initiate management for several life-threatening emergencies, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), use an AED and relieve choking in a safe, timely and effective manner. This course is 3.5 contact or clock hours.
  • ACLS—Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Initial: The course is comprised of training that focus on information for healthcare professionals who initiate and direct advanced life support in critically ill adult patients. This course emphasizes the evaluation and management of the first 10 minutes of a pulseless arrest noting the importance of basic life support (CPR) to patient survival, integration of effective basic life support with ACLS interventions and the importance of effective team interaction and communication during resuscitation. The course includes simulated clinical scenarios that encourage active, hands-on participation through learning stations where students practice essential skills individually, as part of a team, and as team leader. This course is 12 contact or clock hours.
  • ACLS—Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Recertification: The course is comprised of retraining that focus on information for healthcare professionals who initiate and direct advanced life support in critically ill adult patients. This course emphasizes the evaluation and management of the first 10 minutes of a pulseless arrest noting the importance of basic life support (CPR) to patient survival, integration of effective basic life support with ACLS interventions and the importance of effective team interaction and communication during resuscitation. The course includes simulated clinical scenarios that encourage active, hands-on participation through learning stations where students practice essential skills individually, as part of a team, and as team leader. This course is 8 contact or clock hours.
  • PALS—Pediatric Advanced Life Support Initial: The course is comprised of training that focus on information for healthcare professionals who initiate and direct advanced life support in critically ill infants and children. The course uses a scenario-based, team approach to teach pediatric emergency management of pediatric patients approaching or already in respiratory or cardiac arrest. The course covers treatment beyond the first few emergency minutes and goes through stabilizing patients or transport phases of a pediatric emergency, in or out of the hospital. The course includes simulated clinical scenarios that encourage active, hands-on participation through learning stations where students practice essential skills individually, as part of a team, and as team leader. This course is 16 contact or clock hours.
  • PALS—Pediatric Advanced Life Support Recertification: The course is comprised of retraining that focus on information for healthcare professionals who initiate and direct advanced life support in critically ill infants and children. The course uses a scenario-based, team approach to teach pediatric emergency management of pediatric patients approaching or already in respiratory or cardiac arrest. The course covers treatment beyond the first few emergency minutes and goes through stabilizing patients or transport phases of a pediatric emergency, in or out of the hospital. The course includes simulated clinical scenarios that encourage active, hands-on participation through learning stations where students practice essential skills individually, as part of a team, and as team leader. This course is 8 contact or clock hours.

National Association of Emergency Medical Technician (NAEMT) Curriculum:

Requirements

PHTLS—Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support: This course is based on a pre-hospital trauma care philosophy, stressing the treatment of the multi-system trauma patient as a unique entity with specific needs. This may require an approach to the trauma patient that varies from traditional treatment modalities. PHTLS promotes critical thinking as the foundation for providing quality care. It is based on the belief that, given a good fund of knowledge and key principles, EMS practitioners are capable of making reasoned decisions regarding patient care. Classes are offered on the Miami Shores and Pembroke Pines sites. This course is 16 contact or clock hours

TFR—Trauma First Response: This course is a one-day continuing education course that teaches the principles of Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) to non-EMS practitioners, including first responders, police officers, firefighters, rescue personnel and safety officers. It helps them prepare to care for trauma patients while serving as part of a transport team or awaiting a transport provider. Classes are offered on the Miami Shores and Pembroke Pines sites. This course is 8 contact or clock hours.

AMLS—Advanced Medical Life Support: This course is for all levels of practitioners including emergency medical technicians, paramedics, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurse anesthetists and physicians. The course emphasizes the use of scene size-up, history, interactive group discussion on potential treatment strategies, and physical exam to systematically rule out and consider possibilities and probabilities in treating patients’ medical crises. This course includes the following topics: altered mental status and neurologic disorders, respiratory dysfunction, shock, chest discomfort, endocrine, metabolic and environmental disorders, abdominal discomfort, infectious disease, and toxicological emergencies, hazardous materials and weapons of mass destruction. Classes are offered on the Miami Shores and Pembroke Pines sites. This course is 16 contact or clock hours.

TCCC— Tactical Combat Casualty Care: This course introduces evidence-based, life-saving techniques and strategies for providing the best trauma care on the battlefield, under the auspices of the PHTLS program. Classes are offered on the Miami Shores and Pembroke Pines sites. This course is 16 contact or clock hours.

LEFR—Law Enforcement First Response: This course teaches public safety first responders including police, other law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders the basic medical care interventions that will help save an injured responder’s life until EMS practitioners can safely enter a tactical scene. It combines the principles of PHTLS and TCCC. Classes are offered on the Miami Shores and Pembroke Pines sites. This course is 8 contact or clock hours.