Is advanced ECG & Pharmacology the same as ACLS?

Very often we are asked if the advanced ECG and Pharmacology course is the same as the ACLS course. 

The answer is No. They are two different courses. 

Let’s analyze each of them to understand the similarities and the differences.

What is ACLS?

ACLS ( advanced cardiovascular life support ) is a course offered by the American Heart Association ( AHA ) . You can take this course in any  training center recognized by the AHA.

It is designed for healthcare professionals who may be involved in the management of cardiorespiratory emergencies or cardiopulmonary arrest.  These emergencies can occur in different settings: the Emergency room, ICU, CCU, OR, and prehospital settings. 

In many states, ACLS certification is required for employment at hospitals and medical clinics. 

This course emphasizes 4 critical concepts: 

• The importance of high quality CPR and early defibrillation to patient survival
• The integration of BLS with ACLS 
• The knowledge of algorithms that we transform in interventions and medications administration
• The importance of effective team dynamics

ACLS will improve your ability to recognize and treat cardiopulmonary arrest and to manage immediate post cardiac arrest.

In addition, this course teaches how to manage patients with:  

• Acute stroke 
• ACS (acute coronary syndrome) 
• Acute dysrhythmias (Sinus Tachycardia,  SVT, Ventricular Tachycardia, Sinus Bradycardia, AV blocks ). 

ACLS also focuses on medications utilized in the ACLS algorithms like:

• Oxygen
• Aspirin
• Nitroglycerine
• Morphine
• Adenosine
• Epinephrine
• Amiodarone
• Lidocaine
• Atropine
• And dopamine 

At Code One, we offer ACLS in 3 different program formats:

• Instructor-led ACLS class 
• Heart-code ACLS  (This is a combination of eLearning, in which a student completes part of the course online, followed by a hands-on session. You can complete the  hands-on session, at your convenience , in one of our  locations with an AHA Instructor or on our BEACON platform.) 
• Instructor led virtual class 

Upon completion of the course, we issue an ACLS provider card that is valid for 2 years.

What is an Advanced ECG and Pharmacology Class?

Advanced ECG and Pharmacology is a course, offered by many medical centers and private training centers like Code One. This class expands the knowledge obtained in the ACLS class. 

This course is designed for Medical students, Residents, PA, RNs, ECG Monitor Technicians, Paramedics, and other health personnels.

Any healthcare professional who wants to refresh or get better knowledge and understanding  of common dysrhythmias  and cardiac pharmacology can take this class. 

This course reviews the cardiac electrophysiology , the leads placement and  the analysis of an ECG  in all its components.

You will analyze waves and segments, rate, rhythms, electrical axis, slurring, depression , elevation, inversions of the ST segment.  The advanced ECG class also describes the ECG changes related to electrolyte disorders, medications effects, hypothermia, pericarditis and myocardial infarction.

It also provides a more in depth understanding of medications used to treat these cardiac emergencies.

This class is offered in different  program formats: instructor led in person class or instructor led virtual class. 

At Code One, you can take the  advanced ECG course with an instructor on our virtual training platform. Our course meets Hartford Hospital’s requirements for new employee ECG training. At the end of the class, after passing a written exam,  participants will receive a completion certificate.