Infection Control

Providers’ advanced life support skills decline before required re-training

Patient Safety Monitor Insider, March 21, 2012

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Healthcare providers’ advanced life support skills decline within a year of training if those skills are not used frequently, according to a review of 11 international studies conducted by the National Taiwan University Hospital. Standard guidelines often call for re-training every two years, leading to a gap in which providers may not recall the proper approach for saving a patient in cardiac arrest. The study is the first to systematically review and evaluate the question of how often training on advanced life support should take place.

A spokesperson from the American Heart Association noted that while simulations have proven useful and practical compared to traditional classroom training, the guidelines for re-training every two years will likely remain in place until additional research has been conducted.

Source: Orlando Sentinel



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