Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

HeartCode PALS FAQs (PDF)

What is HeartCode PALS?

HeartCode® is an online comprehensive eLearning program that uses eSimulation technology to allow students to assess and treat patients in virtual healthcare settings. In this environment, students apply their knowledge to real-time decision-making and skills development. To enter the course, students must complete the PALS Precourse Self-Assessment. Students are then presented with 12 In-hospital patient cases and a team dynamics lesson. Cases may be repeated as many times as necessary to pass. Upon successful completion of all the patient cases, students must pass the multiple-choice exam with a minimum score of 84%. Students who successfully complete the online portion of the course receive a certificate granting them access to a PALS Hands-on Session with an AHA PALS Instructor. Students must successfully complete BOTH the online portion and the hands-on session to receive a PALS Provider course completion card (print or eCard).

Features:

• Web-based, self-paced eSimulation instructional program for PALS cognitive training
• Students apply knowledge to real-time decision-making and skills development
• Debriefings and coaching are provided immediately after each simulation to facilitate learning
• Access to the PALS Provider Manual, the 2015 Handbook of ECC, and 2015 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC
• Access to all information in course for two years following activation of course

Course Content:

• Performing high-quality Child CPR AED and Infant CPR per AHA BLS recommendations
• Differentiating between patients who do and do not require immediate intervention
• Recognizing cardiopulmonary arrest early and beginning CPR within 10 seconds
• Applying team dynamics
• Differentiating between respiratory distress and failure
• Performing early interventions for respiratory distress and failure’s
• Differentiating between compensated and decompensated (hypotensive) shock
• Performing early interventions for the treatment of shock
• Differentiating between unstable and stable patients with arrhythmias
• Describing clinical characteristics of instability in patients with arrhythmias
• Implementing post–cardiac arrest management

Intended Audience

HeartCode PALS is for healthcare providers who respond to emergencies in infants and children. This includes personnel in emergency response, emergency medicine, intensive care and critical care units such as physicians, nurses, paramedics and others who need a PALS course completion card and are seeking an alternative (non-classroom) method for completing an initial or update PALS course.

Student Materials

The UMBC issued access code for the course is included with the fee.

Pre-course Preparation:

As per the AHA guidelines all students MUST complete the following BEFORE attending the PALS provider/renewal class.

• Complete the PALS Precourse Self-Assessment
• Understand and pass the 12 in-hospital patient cases and a team dynamics lesson
• Understand the PALS algorithms for the core cases in the electronic version of the PALS student manual.
• Complete the PALS written exam and pass with an 84%.
• Print out the completion certificate and bring it with you to the on site portion of the PALS course. Without this certificate you will not be allowed to participate in the on site PALS portion of the course.

Course Completion Card or Certificate

Successful completion of the full PALS course (using HeartCode PALS) includes:

• HeartCode PALS Online Portion. Upon successful completion of the online portion, including the written exam, students receive a certificate of completion, which must be presented for the hands-on session with an AHA PALS Instructor or a voice-assisted manikin (VAM).
• Hands-on session with an AHA PALS Instructor.

Students will receive an AHA PALS course completion card, valid for two years, upon successful completion of course components.

Course Policies

A copy of the general course policies can be viewed by clicking here.