Dear BLS Instructors, We are pleased to announce that the BLS Product & Course Orientation (P&CO) is now available! This orientation may be accessed from the BLS Course page on the AHA Instructor Network. The AHA developed the BLS P&CO to help BLS Instructors understand the new, 2016 BLS Course design and teaching strategies, and to quickly get up to speed on the latest and most important updates to the BLS Course materials. The P&CO provides you: Information about new course materials, course curriculum updates, and how the changes impact the way you will teach the BLS Course Details, clarification, and direction on various course formats Specifics about new BLS course materials

Steps to incorporate new updates into various course settings

The AHA has released the 2015 BLS for the Healthcare Provider Exam!!!

BLS Instructors may only begin administering new exams once they

1.    Have completed their 2015 Guidelines Instructor Update for BLS.

2.    Have received their new BLS Instructor Manual. The manual covers critical information on conducting the new BLS Course, including how to administer the exam according to new science and educational principles.

Please note the following new features of the 2016 BLS Exam:

·         New exams include scenario-based questions, which challenge students to evaluate real-life situations and use critical-thinking skills to show mastery of course content.

·         Based on feedback from the AHA Training Network, exams now include both the traditional Answer Key (with page numbers for referencing correct answers) and an Annotated Answer Key. The Annotated Answer Key provides rationale for the correct answers to the exam questions, along with the highlighted correct answer and page numbers for reference.

·         Beginning with the launch of new courses updated to reflect 2015 Guidelines science and education, as part of new education methodologies, the AHA has adopted an open-resource policy for exams. This policy is described in the BLS Instructor Manual. This is another critical reason why Instructors should not administer new exams until they have received new BLS Instructor materials.

Reminder: Exam Security

Please remember, you are responsible for the security of exams.

To receive new exam, please email Kelly at kelly.wanzek@sanfordhealth.org.

Thank you,
Kelly

Greetings TC Instructors!

With the 2015 Guidelines, the AHA is updating the course completion cards.  With this change comes an increase in price.  Beginning July 1, 2016, the cost per card for BLS & Heartsaver level cards will increase to $6.50 per card. 

You will begin to see the updated cards as they become available. However, to allow you time to make any budget changes, we will hold off on passing along the increase until July 1, 2016.

We anticipate that there will also be an increase in ACLS & PALS cards. but this information in not yet available from the AHA.

Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.

Thank you,

Kelly Wanzek, TC Coordinator

Carmen Wang, Education Assistant Extraordinaire

Ron Lawler, Director of Education

December 31, 2015

Dear F-M Ambulance TC Members,

It’s hard to believe that it is already Training Center (TC) renewal time!  We have been working hard and evaluating our past practices for renewal in an effort to improve the process for you, the instructors!  Due to some regulations from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the 2015 Guidelines getting published we will be conducting our TC renewal differently this year.

f you are interested in continuing with F-M Ambulance TC, you need to attend one (1) of the upcoming renewal session dates:

•         Thursday, January 7^th, 2016 (1pm-7pm)
•          Friday, January 8^th, 2016 (9am-4pm)
•          Saturday, January 9^th, 2016 (10am-4pm)
•          Monday, January 25^th, 2016 (9am-11am)

At your renewal session, you will complete the following:  update your instructor profile; complete an instructor agreement; successfully complete the BLS for the Healthcare Provider written exam; successfully perform provider skills; provide documentation of completion of the 2015 AHA Guidelines Online Instructor Update Course(s) for each discipline you instruct.  Instructors will also be conducting the provider skills evaluation of a peer to allow the Training Center Faculty the opportunity to monitor instructor performance.

The 2015 AHA Guidelines Online Instructor Update Course(s) can be completed at http://ahainstructornetwork.org/2015instructorupdate.jsp.  You will login using your AHA Instructor Network username and password.

As outlined in the Program Administration Manual (PAM), in order to maintain your instructor status, you must teach two classes every year (or four classes in two years).  If you have not met these minimum requirements we will not be able to renew your instructor card when it expires. 

Prior to attending, please visit the AHA Instructor Network, www.ahainstructornetwork.org , and verify that your instructor and contact information is up-to-date. 

The 2015 Training Center dues are $65.00 per instructor.  The price of card processing will be $6.00 per BLS Card and $8.00 per ALS card. 

We continue to use our online database to track records.  If you are unfamiliar with the online roster submission process or have questions, please contact Carmen at 701-364-1758.

You are required to pay your 2015 dues at your renewal session.  All instructors are required to attend a renewal session.  If you do not attend a renewal session you will not have access to the online database and we will assume that you no longer want to be affiliated with the F-M Ambulance TC.

Please register for a renewal session here, https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VBVGGTM. 

Thank you,

Kelly Wanzek                                                   

Training Center Coordinator

701-364-1750

kelly.wanzek@fmambulance.com                                          

Preliminary Release Dates for 2015-16 AHA Guidelines Tools & Products:

2015
October 15, 2015

• ILCOR Consensus on Science
• 2015 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC
• AHA/Red Cross Guidelines for First Aid

November/December

• 2015 Guidelines Highlights (PDF and eBook)
• 2015 Guidelines Highlights Translations (17 languages)
• Handbook for ECC for Healthcare Providers (PDF and eBook)
• Science In-Service
• Instructor Update Conference at ReSS/SS (November 6, 2015)

2016
January/February

• Basic Life Support (BLS) Blended Learning
• BLS Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI™) (Module 2)

March/April

• BLS Classroom
• Heartsaver® First Aid CPR AED Blended Learning
• Heartsaver® First Aid CPR AED Classroom
• Heartsaver® Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Blended Learning
• Heartsaver® Automated Training Solution (ATS)
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Classroom
• HeartCode® ACLS
• CPR Anytime® Adult/Child
• Infant CPR Anytime®
• CPR in Schools Training Kit™

May/June

• Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI™)
• Heartsaver® Pediatric First Aid CPR AED
• Heartsaver® Bloodborne Pathogens
• Family & Friends® CPR

July/August

• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Classroom
• HeartCode® PALS

Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization (PEARS®) 

Dear F-M Ambulance Training Center Members,

Happy 2015!  Spring is on its way!  With that comes annual Training Center renewal.    

This email is for all instructors that completed the Face-to-Face TC Renewal in 2014.  If you did not complete the Face-to-Face TC Renewal in 2014 you will be receiving a separate email with directions on how to complete your renewal.

To continue with the F-M Ambulance TC, we will need you to complete an Instructor Profile and Instructor Agreement.  These need to be returned along with your annual dues.  Be sure to include an email address on the Instructor Profile form, as this is the primary form of contact for TC information.

The 2015 dues will remain at $65.00.  The price of card processing will also stay the same, $6.00 per BLS card and $8.00 per ALS card.  As a reminder the American Heart Association (AHA) will be publishing the 2015 Guidelines in the future (late 2015).  This will result in required updates and the publication of new materials.  Information related to updates, training and materials will be delivered through the TC blog and email.  Be sure to keep this timeline in consideration when budgeting for materials. 

Linked in this notice you will find the following:

·         Instructor Profile.  In order to ensure that we have the most current contact information on file, please complete and return this with your TC dues.

·         Training Center Agreement.  Please review and return the signed TC Agreement.

In addition to completing the above paperwork please visit www.ahainstructornetwork.org, and verify your profile information is up-to-date.  If you are not currently receiving updates from our blog you can sign-up at http://trainingcenter.fmambulance.com/ by entering your email. 

The linked paperwork, online updates and payment of annual dues must be completed and returned no later than April 20^th, 2015.  You can mail the completed paperwork along with your dues to:
F-M Ambulance Service
Attn: AHA Training Center
2215 18th Street South
Fargo, ND 58103

We look forward to serving you in 2015!

Thank you!

Kelly Wanzek                                                                                Carmen Wang  

(701) 364-1750                                                                            (701) 364-1758

kelly.wanzek@fmambulance.com                                           carmen.wang@fmambulance.com

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   Striving for Better Health

            Creating heart-healthy communities takes more than just changing our own habits – we need to motivate others and speak in one voice. Learn how the American Heart Association is working to create healthier communities and join our efforts at yourethecure.org