BLS vs ACLS: What's the Difference in Memphis Medical Certs?

 If you work in healthcare in Memphis, you likely started with Basic Life Support (BLS) certification for essential responder skills. But as you advance in your career, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) training becomes vital for specialized cardiac providers. So what’s the difference between basic BLS and advanced ACLS certifications in Memphis? Read on for an in-depth look at how these two credentials compare.

BLS Certification Overview

BLS covers the critical skills that all healthcare professionals need for emergency response, including:

• High-quality CPR for cardiac arrest

• Operating automated external defibrillators (AEDs)

• Relieving airway obstructions

• Providing rescue breathing

• Controlling bleeding

• Monitoring vital signs

BLS teaches interventions to sustain life until the patient can be transported to advanced medical care. Certification is required for doctors, nurses, EMS personnel, and other providers likely to encounter emergencies.

BLS credentials must be renewed every two years through an American Heart Association refresher course. Skills and protocols are updated to reflect current best practices for basic life support response.

Understanding ACLS Certification

While BLS covers foundational techniques, ACLS builds advanced interventions for urgent cardiac patients, including:

• ECG rhythm recognition

• Cardiac drug administration

• Advanced airway management

• Defibrillation and cardioversion

• Management of stroke, MI, and arrest

ACLS prepares specialized providers to act as advanced responders for codes and rapid response teams. Training focuses on complex decision-making for critical cardiovascular and respiratory emergencies.

ACLS also requires renewal every two years to stay current. Credentials are mandatory for roles like ER doctors, ICU nurses, cardiologists, anesthesiologists, and paramedics.

Key Differences Between BLS and ACLS

While BLS and ACLS certifications cover urgent response, there are important distinctions:

• BLS teaches basic life support like CPR vs. ACLS covers advanced interventions beyond BLS.

• BLS is for general medical responders vs. ACLS for specialized cardiac providers.

• BLS aims to delay death until advanced care arrives vs. ACLS seeks to prevent death entirely.

• BLS covers fundamental techniques vs. ACLS incorporates drugs, intubation, and cardioversion.

• BLS is required for most providers vs. ACLS for specialized cardiovascular roles.

• In essence, BLS keeps patients alive until ACLS can definitively manage emergencies with advanced care. The certifications work hand in hand for optimal patient outcomes.

Benefits of Adding ACLS After BLS in Memphis

Given the enhanced interventions covered, ACLS certification imparts many benefits for providers in Memphis:

1. Builds on BLS foundation with critical advanced skills to definitively treat codes.

2. Needed for specialized providers in emergency response roles like crash teams.

3. Improves survival outcomes through advanced cardiovascular and respiratory support.

4. Meets requirements for career advancement to roles requiring ACLS.

5. Ensures competence to intervene in complex cardiac emergencies.

6. Allows providers to qualify for positions in cardiology, anesthesiology, critical care, emergency services, and paramedicine.

ACLS saves lives by empowering Memphis providers with lifesaving skills beyond basic BLS protocols.

Call to Action: Get Memphis ACLS Certification

Ready to take the next step in your medical training? Ensure you have the proper certifications for your current and future emergency response roles in Memphis.

CPR Memphis offers 2-day American Heart Association ACLS certification classes across Memphis on a regular basis. Check our website for the upcoming schedule and register online today.

Go beyond basic life support and get the advanced training needed to definitively intervene in critical cardiovascular crises. Earn your ACLS - sign up now!

ACLS Builds Lifesaving Skills for Memphis Providers

BLS and ACLS work together to ensure positive outcomes for urgent cardiac patients, with BLS stabilizing and ACLS providing definitive intervention. While BLS covers fundamentals for all providers, ACLS enables advanced techniques and complex decision-making for specialized cardiovascular and emergency responders.

Earning ACLS certification allows Memphis healthcare professionals to upgrade their skills, meet job requirements, improve emergency response, and save more lives. Combined with BLS, ACLS credentials prepare providers to optimize care across the continuum - from delaying death to preventing it completely.

CPR Memphis offers American Heart Association ACLS certification on an ongoing basis to help Memphis providers stay current. Invest in your skills and career by signing up for ACLS training today. Our experienced instructors will arm you with advanced interventions to lead emergency response in critical cardiopulmonary crises when minutes matter most.