Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) refers to a series of medical treatment actions performed for the urgent treatment of cardiac arrest, stroke and other life threatening medical emergencies, as well as the knowledge and training needed to carry out the actions and properly handle the situation. ACLS guidelines are set into several groups of ‘algorithms’ – a set of instructions that are followed to standardize treatment, and increase its effectiveness. These algorithms usually come in the form of a flowchart, incorporating ‘yes/no’ type decisions, making the algorithm easier to memorize.
Category Archives: Definitions
Tertiary hospital Care
A specialized, highly technical level of health care that includes diagnosis and treatment of disease and disability in sophisticated, large research and teaching hospitals serving a large geographic region. Specialized intensive care units, advanced diagnostic support services, and highly specialized personnel/specialist physicians for cardiac, medical, trauma, neurological, pediatric, and neonate/infant care, are characteristic of tertiary health care.
Paramedic
A medical caregiver with ALS (advanced life support) level training.
Morbidity
The rate and extent of disease.
Inter-facility transport
Medical care provided en-route between two medical facilities, usually between a local community hospital and a regional trauma center or other specialty center.
Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS)
Helicopter air ambulance providing emergency medical services.
Emergency medical technician (EMT)
A medical caregiver with BLS level training.
EMS System
An arrangement of medical, public health, and public safety resources to prevent occurrences of emergency illness and injury and to mitigate the impact of such occurrences which can’t be prevented. May be local, regional, state, or national.
Critical care ground – (CCG)
A ground ambulance providing a level of medical care higher than ALS, staffed with specially trained nurses and paramedics.
Bbasic life support (BLS)
The most basic level of medical care provided in an ambulance, usually by First Responders and EMT’s.