ACLS Courses

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)

American Heart Association’s (AHA) Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Course has been updated to reflect new science in the 2015 American Heart Association Guidelines Update for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. This course builds on the foundation of lifesaving 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, recognition and intervention of cardiopulmonary arrest, immediate post-cardiac arrest, acute dysrhythmia, stroke, and acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

*Please note, attending an ACLS class does not also certify staff in BLS. Please refer to Policy 9905 for clarification.

*Student manuals may be loaned out from the Matthew Fuller Library on the fifth floor of the main campus.

Dartmouth Hitchcock offers two-course options when clinical staff have to complete their initial or recertification for ACLS:

  1. Traditional 2-day instructor-lead course: A traditional course that consists of 2 days of classroom lecture, video, practice, simulation lab learning, and practical/written exam.
  2. Heartcode ACLS blended learning: HeartCode ACLS is the AHA’s blended learning delivery method for the AHA’s ACLS Course. Blended learning is a combination of eLearning, in which a student completes part of the course in a self-directed manner, followed by a hands-on session.

HeartCode ACLS is a self-directed, comprehensive eLearning program that uses eSimulation technology to allow students to assess and treat patients in virtual healthcare settings. Upon successful completion of all the online lessons and e-simulations, students will take a multiple-choice exam and must pass with a minimum score of 84%.

Once students complete the online self-directed course, they must complete a 4-hour hands-on skills practicum in the simulation lab. The online courses are required to be completed prior to and students will not be granted admission if the course is not complete.

Registration

For registration questions, please call 603-653-1776 or email lifesupport@hitchcock.org.