ORIGINAL RELEASE DATE:  March 2009

TERMINATION DATE:  February 17, 2013

LAST REVIEW DATE: February 2010

DESCRIPTION:
HeartCode^® PALS has been designed to aid the pediatric healthcare provider in developing the knowledge and skills necessary to efficiently evaluate and effectively manage seriously ill infants and children.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the conclusion, participants should be able to: identify the key elements of resuscitation team behaviors; demonstrate the systematic approach to pediatric assessment of a seriously ill or injured child; perform the “assess-categorize-decide-act” approach to management of a seriously ill infant or child; identify the purpose and components of the general assessment (pediatric assessment triangle); evaluate respiratory or circulatory problems using the ABCDE model; recognize and manage a child with hypovolemic shock, supraventricular tachycardia, airway compromise secondary to croup, hypoxic bradycardia, lower airway obstruction (asthma), obstructive shock (pneumothorax), septic shock, pulseless electrical activity, ventricular fibrillation, lung tissue (parenchymal) lung disease, disordered control of breathing, and cardiogenic shock; identify how to prevent further deterioration of the child’s condition during the stabilization and transfer phase of care; perform effective basic life support (CPR) skills for infants and children; perform basic airway management skills; use appropriate electrical therapy when performing defibrillation and synchronized cardioversion; list the indications and contraindications for intraosseous (IO) access; demonstrate the proper techniques for intraosseous (IO) access; and list the potential causes of cardiac arrest and their specific management.

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT:

ACCREDITATION TERMS:

HeartCode PALS Course
ORIGINAL RELEASE DATE:  March 2009

TERMINATION DATE:  February 17, 2013

LAST REVIEW DATE: February 2010

CERTIFICATION TERMS:
• ACCME/AMA (Physicians) – February 18, 2010 – February 17, 2013
• ANCC (Nurses) – February 18, 2010 – February 17, 2013
• CECBEMS (EMS Practitioners) - February 18, 2010 – February 17, 2013

ACCREDITATION STATEMENTS:

Continuing Medical Education Accreditation - Physicians
The American Heart Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The American Heart Association designates this educational activity for a maximum of 12.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.  Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

All faculty participating in CME/CE activities sponsored by The American Heart Association will disclose to the audience (1) significant financial relationships with the manufacturer(s) of products from the commercial supporter(s) and /or the manufacturer(s) of products or devices discussed in their presentation, and (2) unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs or devices discussed in their presentation.  Such disclosures will be made in writing in course presentation materials.

Continuing Medical Education Accreditation – Physician Assistants
AAPA accepts Category I credit from AOACCME, Prescribed credit from AAFP, and AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by ACCME.

Continuing Education Accreditation - Nurses
The American Heart Association is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
 
The maximum number of hours awarded for this CE activity is 11.74 contact hours.

Continuing Education Accreditation – Emergency Medical Services
This continuing education activity is approved by the American Heart Association, an organization accredited by the Continuing Education Coordinating Board for Emergency Medical Services (CECBEMS), for 12.00 Advanced CEHs, activity number 10-AMHA-F3-0083.

Disclosures for HeartCode PALS:
I. Instructions for Independent Study
Successful completion of this CE activity includes the following:
(1) Complete the program and the test.
(2) Complete the course Evaluation form.
(3) Print Certificate/Statement of Credit.

Disclosure Statement
The American Heart Association must ensure fair balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all of its individually sponsored or jointly sponsored educational activities.

Accreditation / Disclosure Statements

Therefore, all faculty and authors participating in continuing education activities sponsored by the American Heart Association must disclose to the audience: (1) any significant financial relationships with the manufacturer(s) of products from the commercial supporter(s) and/or the manufacturer(s) of products or devices discussed in the activity, and (2) unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs or devices discussed in the activity. The intent of this disclosure is not to prevent an author with a significant financial or other relationship from contributing but rather to provide participants with information with which they can make their own judgments. It remains for the participants to determine whether the author’s interests or relationships may influence the content.
 
I. The following authors have declared NO financial interest(s) and / or affiliations:

Name
Marc Berg, MD
Monica Kleinman, MD
Mark Terry, EMT-P

II. The following faculty have declared NO financial interest(s) and or affiliations:

Name      
Mary Fran Hazinski, RN, MSN
Jennifer Ashcraft, RN, BSN, EMT

Unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs or devices is included in this activity
None

TARGET AUDIENCES:
Primary Audience:
• Physicians
• Nurses
• Emergency Medical Technicians/Paramedics
• Residents
• Nurse Practitioners
• Physician Assistants