The self-directed, online course prepares healthcare professionals to: Evaluate and assess patients with potential symptoms of heart attack. Interpret electrocardiograms (ECGs) to identify ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), a severe form of heart attack that occurs when blood supply is totally blocked to a large area of the heart. Activate a system of care to quickly open the blocked coronary artery.
The course is part of the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline®, a program launched in 2007 to improve systems of care for people experiencing STEMI.
Each year, more than 250,000 Americans have a STEMI, the deadliest form of heart attack. A rapid response to open the blocked artery is crucial to improving the patient’s outcome, which is why it is important that a STEMI be quickly and correctly identified and the proper treatment process started immediately.
The new course can help improve the system of care from the moment the patient contacts EMS providers, through the EMS response and transport and the readiness preparations of the hospital facilities to treat the patient upon arrival.
Learn:® Rapid STEMI ID Online Course (90-1415) is available through Emergency Cardiovascular Care Distributors or at OnlineAHA.org, beginning April 1.
The content includes: Understanding STEMI systems of care and recognition Basics of acute coronary syndromes and triage of STEMI patients Acquiring high-quality, 12-lead ECGs 12-lead findings that mimic STEMI Coronary anatomy related to 12-lead ECG Indications for activating a heart alert system
The course includes: Practice 12-lead ECG test Two-part American Heart Association exam Printed certificate of completion after successful completion (no skills session required to complete course) Access to course content for one year following activation of course key
The updated course is based on revised guidelines published in the Nov. 2, 2010 issue of which is available at www.americanheart.org.
For more information about Learn: Rapid STEMI ID or other ECC training for healthcare providers, go to www.heart.org/healthcaretraining.
The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association receives funding mostly from individuals. Foundations and corporations donate as well, and fund specific programs and events. Strict policies are enforced to prevent these relationships from influencing the association’s science content. Financial information for the American Heart Association, including a list of contributions from pharmaceutical companies and device manufacturers, is available at www.heart.org/corporatefunding .
