ATLS

[Anonymous]

Hello,
I am wondering if anyone has guidance on ATLS. Is this a required course for residents? Or is it more of a optional course now with everyone being accredited through ACGME?

Thanks for your help! I am a new coordinator 🙂

[Sylvia Suarez]

Hi,

The decisions to require ATLS, BLS, or ACLS are usually institutionally based as far as I know. Our institution requires BLS and ACLS to be maintained during the entire training period.

[Kim Reising]

Good morning,

Our institution requires our residents to be certified for all 3 – BLS, ACLS, and ATLS during their entire residency. I agree with Sylvia, this is usually based per each institution. I would check with your GME office.

Have a great day all!
Kim

[Laurel Lewis]

Amy,
I agree with Sylvia. Can you contact your GME office for guidance? Our residents are required to keep current with BLS, ACLS per our institution and our residency requires the residents to keep current with their ATLS.

BLS and ACLS are a 2 year certification; pretty much to the day. If they want to do the “renewal,” this can be online with an in-person skills test for both individually- but check with your GME Office. We just started doing online ACLS with a skills test (COVID), but before it was a one day course. BLS renewal has been offered online with an in-person skills test for years. If they wait until the certification has expired the resident will have to take the BLS/ACLS (BLS is a prerequisite for ACLS) and that could mean starting from scratch, maybe up to a 1.5 day course for each.

ATLS is initially a 2 day course and the renewal is a one day course. ATLS is also more lenient as there is a 6 month renewal window after their certification has expired and the certification lasts for 4 years. The extended renewal period may be due to the fact that these courses are not offered as much during the year – at least at our institution. We have wonderful people in our “Organizational Learning and Development” who are always willing to help with these courses. Maybe you have a similar department in your institution?
Hope this helps and if I’ve missed anything, please, someone come to my rescue and reiterate!
Take Care All!
~Laurel

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