Physician is board-certified do they still need PALS or ACLS?

  • Physician is board-certified do they still need PALS or ACLS?

    Posted by name on April 9, 2024 at 11:59 am

    Hey team!

    Does anyone have any additional info or insight here?

    If the Physician is board-certified do they still need PALS or ACLS? We have a couple of hospitals now requiring it, but this has never been a requirement before.

    Our enrollment team needs documentation to take to the facilities (we have found a bit of info on ACEP & ABEM – but I am hoping we can find more with EDPMA.

    Thanks for your help and advice!

    Codie

    name replied 12 months ago 2 Members · 2 Replies
  • 2 Replies
  • name

    Member
    April 9, 2024 at 12:24 pm

    I’ll weigh in with our perspective, with the caveat that others may have a different experience.

    Sorry, but it depends.

    Progressive hospitals understand that residency trained and board certified Emergency Physicians’ education and experience, along with their required lifelong learning process accomplishes the aims of the American Heart Association courses (PALS and ACLS were mentioned, some require BLS as well) and write an exception for the requirement into their Medical Staff bylaws. Some of those requirements specify that the classes (and cards) are the AHA courses. There are a number of competing certification courses in the marketplace. ACLS isn’t trademarked.

    I imagine you can see what’s coming next: Some hospitals do not have an exception for BCEM and BCOEM (we’ll set aside the question of AAPS boards here) and require a current card (or cards, if PALS and/or BLS are required) and that the physician keeps current with recertification (the cards expire in two years and there is no grace period). ACEP and AAEM have position papers on the subject, and “merit badges” (we haven’t included in this consideration ATLS) are generally not thought well of in the profession.

    TL; DR: Check the bylaws for a BCEM/BCOEM exception.

    I hope this helps,

    Paul

    • name

      Member
      April 9, 2024 at 1:50 pm

      Thanks, Paul!
      I really appreciate your time!

      I will forward this to our enrollment team and CMO.

      Thanks again!

      Codie

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