Notice of change: Certifications for healthcare professionals

Date

  • MAY 17, 2022

 

Certifications

Adjustment of the validation period for several certifications

 

Date of issue :

  • Quebec City, May 17, 2022

 

Effective date :

  • June 1, 2022

 

Target clientele :

  • All healthcare professionals

 

Certifications affected :

 

Since the Académie Saint-Bernard® aims to become a leader in the field of CPR and First Aid training online, we must constantly develop and adapt our training and services.

 

Since our training programs are based on the scientific data we have been able to collect, and on the recommendations resulting from the most recent assessments of the evidence provided by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR), we are obliged to make certain changes to the validation times for some of the certifications we offer.

 

As a result of these recommendations, in 2010, the period of validity of certificates for healthcare professionals was reduced from two (2) years to one (1) year, with the exception of Quebec, where it remained at two (2) years.

 

The recommendations issued on November 2, 2010 were as follows:

  • The quality of rescuer training and the frequency of renewal are critical factors in improving the effectiveness of cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques.  Ideally, renewal should not be limited to 2-year intervals. More frequent renewal of skills is needed, with a commitment to maintaining certification similar to that adopted by many healthcare certification organizations. (Field et al., 2010)

 

As mentioned in the latest national recommendations issued on October 20, 2020, it states that:

  • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills acquired immediately after Basic Life Support (BLS) training often show degradation as early as 3 months, leaving many BLS-trained healthcare providers - such as physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and other healthcare professionals - struggling to perform guideline-compliant CPR during simulated and actual cardiac arrests. (Cheng et al., 2020)

 

So we understand that some CPR skills acquired in healthcare professional CPR training can degrade in as little as 3 months. Since one of the responsibilities of the healthcare professional is to be able to guarantee the public a high-quality healthcare service, it is their duty to be able to be prepared effectively, in order to improve their performance in CPR through more frequent training.

 

Since recent studies have shown that more frequent training sessions and regular practice sessions improve the performance of CPR maneuvers, it's clear that if we are to build a safer future, we need to apply this new standard too.

 

To give healthcare professionals the chance to acquire the skills they need to deliver top-quality CPR care and maximize a victim's chances of survival, we will be adapting a mandatory annual recertification for all healthcare professionals.

 

As a result, as of June 1, 2022, our specific training courses for healthcare professionals will qualify for certification with a validity period of one (1) year.

 

This new policy will come into effect on June 1, 2022, and will apply to the following two (2) training courses:

 

The purpose of this new directive is to comply with the latest guidelines in order to ensure the quality of our training.

 

Please note that any certification issued before June 1, 2022 will remain valid for a period of two (2) years.

 

However, please also note that healthcare professionals who have received a certification valid for two (2) years will still be able to maintain their skills through our annual refresher courses. One (1) year after successful completion of their training, these candidates will automatically receive an e-mail inviting them to take this free update. Upon successful completion of this short training course, "Updated on [date of successful completion]" will automatically be added to their original certificate.

 

Sources :

  • Field, J. M., Hazinski, M. F., Sayre, M. R., Chameides, L., Schexnayder, S. M., Hemphill, R., Samson, R. A., Kattwinkel, J., Berg, R. A., Bhanji, F., Cave, D. M., Jauch, E. C., Kudenchuk, P. J., Neumar, R. W., Peberdy, M. A., Perlman, J. M., Sinz, E., Travers, A. H., Berg, M. D.,... Vanden Hoek, T. L. (2010). "Part 1 Executive Summary: 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care". Circulation. 122 (suppl 3):S640-656. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.110.970889 [Last accessed May 17, 2022]
  • Cheng, A., Magid, D. J., Auerbach, M., Bhanji, F., Bigham, B. L., Blewer, A. L., Dainty, K. N., Diederich, E., Lin, Y., Leary, M., Mahgoub, M., Mancini, M. E., Navarro, K. and Donoghue, A. (2021). "Part 6: Resuscitation Education Science: 2020 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Care". Circulation. 142(suppl 2):S551-579. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000903 [Last accessed May 17, 2022]

 

Tag: certifications

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