When lives are on the line, it is critical that medical professionals have the skills and confidence to act in the moments that matter. That’s why the American Red Cross continuously advances its Resuscitation Suite™ programs to meet evolving needs.
U.S. hospitals and EMS networks are choosing Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) programs to improve their resuscitation training, with more than 120 hospital systems and 100 EMS systems using the Red Cross curriculum.
Additionally, the Military Training Network, which exclusively uses Red Cross resuscitation and first aid programs, has certified more than 225,000 healthcare providers over the past two years in Red Cross BLS, ALS and PALS courses. In combination with non-military healthcare organizations, more than 450,000 individuals have been certified using these Red Cross courses in the past two years.
Most recently, Prime Healthcare, which operates 46 hospitals and more than 300 outpatient locations in 14 states, with a workforce of nearly 50,000 employees, selected the Red Cross Resuscitation Suite program using HealthStream’s workforce platform.
Training for Better Outcomes
For the past 20 years, the survival rate for cardiac arrest has hovered around 10 percent for out-of-hospital incidences and 26 percent for in-hospital events, yet research shows that high-quality CPR has a significant impact on survival outcomes, whether inside or outside the hospital.
High-quality CPR emphasizes precision in chest compression rate and depth as well as ventilations performed by patient care teams that are coordinated and competent working together effectively to ensure the proper proportion of time spent on compressions versus ventilations.
The comprehensive curriculum and award-winning course design of the Red Cross Resuscitation Suite program serve as a counterbalance to stagnant resuscitation rates and the rising costs of training.
“Our focus is on advancing resuscitation education so medical professionals are better prepared,” says Dominick Tolli, vice president, Product Management and Development for the Red Cross. “These Resuscitation Suite programs ensure you know what matters, when it matters, which results in better outcomes.”
Transforming the Learning Experience
Red Cross BLS, ALS and PALS solutions are unique in the field of resuscitation education because the evidence-based curriculum contains content contributions from 11 scientific organizations such as the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation, American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Emergency Physicians.
Real-life scenarios tailored separately for hospital providers and EMS professionals are designed to optimize knowledge and skills, reinforcing critical thinking, decision-making and team concepts.
Tolli points out that the Red Cross was the first provider of adaptive resuscitation training in the United States. This type of personalized learning emphasizes hands-on experience and increased staff availability for patients by reducing time behind a computer or in a classroom.
“The quality of healthcare is driven by the people who deliver it,” said Luther Cale, vice president, Resuscitation for HealthStream Inc. “When lives are on the line and moments matter, you want medical professionals with the best resuscitation education available working on the patient.”
Taking Its Training to the Next Level
Hilo Medical Center, the largest facility in Hawaii’s Health Systems Corporation, find its nurses to be more engaged and excited about training because it focuses on advanced skills. Hilo has also found that the adaptive learning feature of the training allows less time learning fundamental skills for experienced nurses and more time at patients’ bedsides.
“With this program, everyone shows up prepared and confident to validate their skills,” says Nicole Vergara, BSN, RNIV, SIM Clinical Coordinator/House Educator for Hilo Medical Center.
Additional details about Resuscitation Suite programs, including science content contributors and how the programs meet competency verification, education, credentialing and privileging requirements are available at redcross.org/healthcare.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
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