I've never had a course so poorly taught, and so poorly tested. Please advise if this is how ACLS is currently taught. This is a letter I sent to the facility director:
Dear J.......,
From advisement of the ECC, I would like your feedback
on the ACLS class offered last Saturday. As you are
the program director, I am to bring it to your
attention first. I believe the instructor for the
course was Jason, who might be related to yourself.
In my opinion, the course was grossly deficient and
not up to AHA standard in the following manners:
1. Megacode testing was not carried out individually.
Each individual student must be tested on 2 rhythms in
addition to VF/Vtach and PEA. Instead, the students
were tested as a group, and were allowed to use their
cards and notes.
2. Written examination was to be close book. Instead,
open book, open note, and open discussion was allowed,
and encourage. Multiple individuals loudly
communicated with each other on the answers to
difficult problems. Needless to say, every one
passed.
3. The course was truncated from 4 hours to 2, at the
expense of NO INDIVIDUAL megacode testing. The group
was tested together as a group, and we discussed the
procedures and methods of running the code during the
testing. AHA standard require individual testing with
no coaching, no prompting, and no discussion.
4. Individual's previous ACLS cards were not check to
assure that they are current, and are qualified to
take the recertification course.
5. One individual, who arrived 1 hour late, attended
only about 10 minutes of the discussion, was allowed
to complete the course, and was told "go read the
book". This is contrary to AHA standard that all
individuals must attend the entire training program to
pass the course.
6. Individual skill testing for BLS skill, and
individual written testing for BLS were not carried
out. Individuals who desired the BLS card simply had
to pay a fee for their card. This is done inspite of
significant change in the BLS instruction since 2005.
7. The instructor knowingly passed students who many
by their own admission, have never studied the new
guidelines, and one did not even have her book removed
from the cellophane wrapper.
Based on what I have observed in this class, and
comparing to the many ACLS, BLS, and ATLS courses I
have taken since 1989 - this program was completely
sub-par by any testing organizations' standard.
Individuals who passed and received their ACLS and BLS
certification can not be assured of competency based
on the teaching and testing protocol of this class.
As there might be conflict of interest in the facility
director, and the instructor in this case, I would
like a feedback from your organization on this matter
within 1 week before advancing the concerns to ECC.
Thank you,
Dear J.......,
From advisement of the ECC, I would like your feedback
on the ACLS class offered last Saturday. As you are
the program director, I am to bring it to your
attention first. I believe the instructor for the
course was Jason, who might be related to yourself.
In my opinion, the course was grossly deficient and
not up to AHA standard in the following manners:
1. Megacode testing was not carried out individually.
Each individual student must be tested on 2 rhythms in
addition to VF/Vtach and PEA. Instead, the students
were tested as a group, and were allowed to use their
cards and notes.
2. Written examination was to be close book. Instead,
open book, open note, and open discussion was allowed,
and encourage. Multiple individuals loudly
communicated with each other on the answers to
difficult problems. Needless to say, every one
passed.
3. The course was truncated from 4 hours to 2, at the
expense of NO INDIVIDUAL megacode testing. The group
was tested together as a group, and we discussed the
procedures and methods of running the code during the
testing. AHA standard require individual testing with
no coaching, no prompting, and no discussion.
4. Individual's previous ACLS cards were not check to
assure that they are current, and are qualified to
take the recertification course.
5. One individual, who arrived 1 hour late, attended
only about 10 minutes of the discussion, was allowed
to complete the course, and was told "go read the
book". This is contrary to AHA standard that all
individuals must attend the entire training program to
pass the course.
6. Individual skill testing for BLS skill, and
individual written testing for BLS were not carried
out. Individuals who desired the BLS card simply had
to pay a fee for their card. This is done inspite of
significant change in the BLS instruction since 2005.
7. The instructor knowingly passed students who many
by their own admission, have never studied the new
guidelines, and one did not even have her book removed
from the cellophane wrapper.
Based on what I have observed in this class, and
comparing to the many ACLS, BLS, and ATLS courses I
have taken since 1989 - this program was completely
sub-par by any testing organizations' standard.
Individuals who passed and received their ACLS and BLS
certification can not be assured of competency based
on the teaching and testing protocol of this class.
As there might be conflict of interest in the facility
director, and the instructor in this case, I would
like a feedback from your organization on this matter
within 1 week before advancing the concerns to ECC.
Thank you,
