Advanced Hazmat Life Support
Advanced Hazmat Life Support (AHLS) is a three-day course training healthcare professionals to care for patients exposed to hazardous and radiological materials, and dangerous goods. Since 1999, AHLS has grown to over 1,200 instructors and the program has trained nearly 20,000 physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and EMS professionals from 77 different countries. Healthcare professionals are trained to face the difficult challenges confronted when caring for patients exposed to radiological sources, nuclear incidents, toxic terrorism, chemical agents and warfare, and toxic releases.
Continuing education credits are provided by the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, the Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing Education (CAPCE), and The University of Arizona College of Pharmacy via the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), with physicians receiving credit via the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).
History of AHLS
In the 1980s, it was recognized that training for healthcare professionals was insufficient in developing the tools and knowledge necessary to treat patients exposed to hazardous materials, toxic exposure or poisoning. In response, Michael V. Vance, MD, developed a statewide toxmedic program for the state of Arizona, assisted by Frank G. Walter, MD, in training EMS professionals. Upon Dr. Vance's retirement in the early 1990s, Dr. Walter continued to develop a training program to treat exposed patients, establishing a partnership with the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology (AACT) and the Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center (AEMRC) to "establish AHLS as an international, interdisciplinary, continuing education course for the standardized care for hazmat patients". That course had an international, interdisciplinary enrollment of 100 healthcare professionals.
Continuing education credits are provided by the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, the Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing Education (CAPCE), and The University of Arizona College of Pharmacy via the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), with physicians receiving credit via the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).
History of AHLS
In the 1980s, it was recognized that training for healthcare professionals was insufficient in developing the tools and knowledge necessary to treat patients exposed to hazardous materials, toxic exposure or poisoning. In response, Michael V. Vance, MD, developed a statewide toxmedic program for the state of Arizona, assisted by Frank G. Walter, MD, in training EMS professionals. Upon Dr. Vance's retirement in the early 1990s, Dr. Walter continued to develop a training program to treat exposed patients, establishing a partnership with the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology (AACT) and the Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center (AEMRC) to "establish AHLS as an international, interdisciplinary, continuing education course for the standardized care for hazmat patients". That course had an international, interdisciplinary enrollment of 100 healthcare professionals.
Comments