American Safety &
Health Institute
Memo
To:
All ASHI Authorized Basic & Advanced Training CentersSM & Training
Center Instructors
From: Ralph M. Shenefelt, General Manager
Date: May 13, 2002
Re:
Using ASHI to Meet Healthcare Training Requirements
The purpose of this memo is to clarify questions from ASHI authorized Training
CentersSM and instructors concerning the use of ASHI programs to meet basic
and advanced resuscitation training requirements for healthcare providers both
inside and outside a hospital.
Inside the hospital
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) is
the nation's predominant standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.
Apparently, a number of ASHI Training Centers have been advised that JCAHO
accepts only American Heart Association, Inc. Emergency Cardiovascular Care
programs for meeting its resuscitation standard. This is not factual. JCAHO
standards, including Standard TX.8 for resuscitation are performance standards
and do not specify a particular program or training agency. Standard TX.8
states;
“Effective resuscitation services are systematically available throughout
the critical access hospital.”
Hospitals may use both CPRPro and ASHI ACLS programs to meet this
standard, as long as they are taught consistent with ASHI Standards and
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Guidelines for Quality Assurance as described in the latest version of the ASHI
Training Center Administrative Manual.
Outside the hospital
Here again, several ASHI Training Centers have been mistakenly advised that
Emergency Medical Service regulators accept only American Heart Association,
Inc. programs for meeting state requirements for training and retraining EMS
professionals.
CPRPro and ASHI ACLS programs are accredited by the Continuing Education
Coordinating Board for Emergency Medical Services (CECBEMS). CECBEMS was
chartered in 1992 by the National Association of EMTs, American College of
Emergency Physicians, National Registry of EMTs, National Association of State
EMS Directors, National Council of State EMS Training Coordinators, and the
National Association of EMS Physicians.
CECBEMS’s purpose is to implement an accreditation process for continuing
education activities offered to EMS personnel that is peer-generated, nongovernmental and recognized nationally. CECBEMS accredits programs under a
centralized review process similar to that of other health care professions.
Consistent with both the EMS Agenda for the Future, and the EMS Education
Agenda for the Future, the National Association of State EMS Directors supports
the goal of national accreditation of continuing education activities, and
specifically encourages recognition of CECBEMS approved programs like CPRPro
and ASHI ACLS.
Occasionally, and usually as a result of a lack of knowledge about these issues,
individuals or organizations will either reject ASHI programs as acceptable
alternative curricula, or refuse to accept ASHI course completion certificates. If
either of these situations occurs, we ask that the Training Center Director contact
ASHI directly instead of attempting to resolve the issue alone. Working together,
we can help you continue to bring ASHI’s cost-effective instructional programs
into your workplace and community.
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