22 Medical Professions Complete ACLS Classes
A total of 22 healthcare professionals, including four physicians, completed the final Advanced Cardiac Life Support classes at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese this fall.
ACLS focuses on the emergency management of acute cardiac conditions. During the course, information is presented and participants practice at various teaching stations then complete written and hands-on testing.
Those successfully completing the course receive a two-year ACLS certification from the American Heart Association. At St. Joseph’s in Breese, all nursing staff in patient care areas as well as cardiopulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation colleagues are required to maintain ACLS certification.
Physicians completing the course included Anne Doll-Pollard, MD, and Bonnie Gelly, MD, of Southern Obstetric and Gynecologic Associates; Chris Rivera, MD, of Rivera Medical; and hospitalist Mark Geronimo, MD.
From St. Joseph in Breese, those completing the class were Jean Bujnak, Donna Lancey and Joanne Venhaus from the hospital’s acute care area, 1South; Deb Litteken of Cardiac Rehab; Sara Huge, Maureen Isaak and Cathy Thole from the Emergency Room; Marilyn Peters of Outpatient Surgery; Brenda Schomaker of Priority Care; Bev Gebke and Amy Maki of Surgical Services; and Helen Essenpreis, Janice Gebke and Brenda Lappe of the Women and Infants Center.
Others included Greg Reynolds from Anesthesia; Laura Hackworth and Kayla Ritzel of Clinton County Rural Health; and EMS John Skain.
Serving as instructors were physicians David L. Neighbors, MD, and Richard Stern, MD; hospital Clinical Educator Barb Eilers; Chief Nursing Officer Paulette Evans; 1South/Intensive Care Unit Director Jan Hustedde, PM/Night Supervisor Janet Masching; 1South/ICU Staff Nurse Sue Richter; and ACLS/Basic Life Support Instructor Sue Warren.
ACLS classes and reviews will next be offered in 2013 – information will be announced when finalized.
For information or to register (required), contact 526-5353 or education@sjb.hshs.org.