Advanced Pediatric Life Support Course Administration

Any physician who treats pediatric patients-pediatricians, family practice physicians, emergency physicians-actually, any physician in an office, urgent care setting, hospital or other inpatient facility, or emergency department who might be called on to care for a pediatric patient.

Any physician who provides medical services to special populations or in communities or for events involving children.

Physicians in training-residents, interns, or fellows who will be expected to provide timely evaluation and treatment to infants, toddlers, school-aged children, and adolescents.

Any other health care provider who is involved in the treatment of pediatric patients, especially in urgent or emergency care settings-nurses, physician assistants, paramedics, and other allied health professionals.

Any physician who is interested in becoming an APLS Course Director or Faculty member.​

The people, or positions, you will need for your APLS Course include:

• One approved APLS Course Director.
• One APLS Faculty member for every six to eight students.

Optional: APLS Equipment Manager to procure equipment, set up and break down everything used for Skill Stations.

Optional: APLS Support Staff to assist with planning, marketing, making course arrangements, registration, and course implementation​.

The APLS Course Completion Examination is a 30-item multiple-choice examination that the Course Director will administer at the end of the APLS Course. It includes questions from the student resource manual, so it is important for students to receive their student resource manuals at least 30 days before the course to allow them enough time to read and study the material.

There are two versions of the examination on the Instructor's ToolKit CD-ROM. The Course Director can choose which examination to administer, then print the number of copies he or she needs for each student.

The Course Director will administer and collect completed examinations at the end of the 60-minute session allotted for test-taking, and will grade the examinations onsite. The Course Director has the option of providing remediation to students who do not make a grade of 80% or better. This can be done immediately by administering the other examination (two are provided on the Instructor's ToolKit CD-ROM), or by requesting that the student return to complete the examination at a later date. The Course Director will then submit a roster of all students, in turn, APLS Course Completion Cards will be sent to the Course Director, for those students who successfully completed the examination. The Course Director will then sign and mail individual cards to students.​

The inclusion of the APLS Course Completion Examination in the 2-day or 1-day course schedule is optional and is left to the discretion of the Course Director. Please note, however, that the 60 minutes allotted for the examination are included in the 14.5 or 7.5 hours recommended by the APLS Steering Committee for the 2-day or 1-day course. Course Directors who opt not to administer the examination must substitute another 60- minute Lecture, Small Group Discussion, or Skill Station. APLS Course Completion Cards will be made available only for courses that include the APLS Course Completion Examination.​

The APLS Course is a Continuing Medical Education Course, designed to provide the learner with the latest information in pediatric emergency medicine. It does not certify or license students, nor does it imply their competency. However, many institutions require proof that their staff participate in such education on a regular basis. To meet this need, the APLS Steering Committee has incorporated the APLS Course Completion Card. This wallet-sized card can be issued to individuals who complete the APLS Course and pass the Course Completion Examination with a score of 80% or better.

APLS Course Completion Cards are valid for 4-years. The APLS Steering Committee recommends that all physicians who treat pediatric patients attend an APLS Course once every 4-years.

Just like the APLS Course Completion Examination, the incorporation of the APLS Course Completion Card into an APLS Course is optional and can be done at the discretion of the Course Director. If the Course Director wishes to receive an APLS Course Completion Card for each student with a passing score of 80% or better on the APLS Course Completion Examination, he or she should indicate that in the appropriate section of the course roster when it is submitted. After the course roster is processed, the APLS Course Completion Cards will be sent directly to the Course Director. It is the Course Director's responsibility to sign and forward the cards to the students. There is no charge for APLS Course Completion Cards.​

A sample Course Completion Card can be found on the Instructor's ToolKit CD-ROM or by clicking here.

Regardless of the number of students in your APLS Course, the list of planning activities and suggested guidelines for implementation remain the same. There will be slight variations for planning a 1-day course, and those variations are noted.

The following timetable provides a description of specific activities generally required for APLS Course planning. The activities are listed in priority order. For example, course content and schedule must be established to determine the type and size of facility needed. A printer-friendly Course checklist can be found on the Instructor's ToolKit CD-ROM or by clicking here.

24 Weeks Before the Course:

• Recruit an approved APLS Course Director.
• Select dates for course.
• Establish course schedule, and determine which Skill Stations will be included.
• dentify potential APLS Faculty members, and make initial contacts.
• Determine the location for the course, and arrange for facilities needed based on number of students, number and type of rooms needed, availability of public transportation, food service, electrical, audiovisual, and equipment needs.
• Make arrangements for sponsorship or joint sponsorship through an organization that is accredited by the ACCME to provide CME credit.
• Develop course budget and set registration fee.
• Mail initial Faculty confirmation letters.
• Recruit Equipment Manager and Support Staff to assist with logistical details, equipment procurement, and other aspects of course implementation.

20 Weeks Before the Course:

• Submit Application for Course Implementation and order extra Instructor's ToolKit CDROMs, if necessary.
• Develop marketing plan and components and order mailing lists.
• Establish registration procedures.
• Arrange for student and Faculty transportation if course activities are to be held in multiple locations beyond walking distance.

16 Weeks Before the Course:

• Work with APLS Equipment Manager to order course supplies and equipment.
• Order audiovisual equipment.
• Arrange for Faculty lodging and transportation.
• Send first mailing to prospective students. If it is a 1-day APLS Course, be sure to tell students that prescribed self-study is required.

12 Weeks Before the Course:

• Order student resource manuals.
• Send a second Faculty mailing to explain course schedule and assignments, identify the format of presentations being used and provide date, time, and location of Faculty meeting as well as lodging and transportation information.
• Select menus for food functions and breaks.
• Order course signage.​

8 to 10 Weeks Before the Course:

• Send second mailing to prospective students.
• Confirm all course arrangements, including location and rooms, food service, Faculty lodging and transportation, and electrical, audiovisual, and equipment needs.​

6 Weeks Before the Course:

• Mail confirmation letters and student resource manuals to students, with instructions to review the entire manual before the course. If administering the APLS Course Completion Examination, explain that it will cover the entire student resource manual. Explain CME credit and certificates and the process for receiving the APLS Course Completion Card.

2 Weeks Before the Course:

• Prepare course packets, including Faculty and student rosters, course schedule, and general information.
• Print course evaluation forms and APLS Course Completion Examination (if necessary).​

1 Week Before the Course:

• Ship course supplies, if necessary.
• Develop rotation schedule
• Assign students to Small Group Discussion and Skill Station groups.

1 Day Before the Course:

• Check Skill Station equipment, audiovisual equipment, and room set up.
• Meet with Equipment Manger to discuss equipment set up. Confirm whether assistance will be needed from the Course Director or other Faculty with set up.​

Day of the Course:

• Reconfirm meals and refreshment break arrangements and provide guarantee numbers.
• Place course signs in appropriate locations.
• Set up registration area.
• Meet with Faculty to discuss introductions, course schedule, any unusual situations or potential problems, questions about course content, management of Small Group Discussion and Skill Station rotations, distribution of evaluation forms, APLS Course Completion Examination, and potential remediation plan.

During the Course:

• Facilitate student and Faculty check-in and registration.
• Distribute student course materials.
• Identify breakout rooms, as appropriate.
• Monitor course sessions to maintain schedule.
• Monitor Small Group Discussions and Skill Stations to maintain desired group size.
• Check on set up for meals and refreshment breaks.
• Ensure that Support Staff are available to answer questions and provide directions.
• Collect Course evaluation forms.
• Have Faculty available to assist in administration and grading of the APLS Course Completion Examination and potential remediation.
• Sign and distribute APLS CME Certificates of Attendance.

Within 2 Weeks After the Course:

• Submit APLS course roster based on actual attendance.
• Collate and review responses on Course evaluation forms.
• Send APLS Course Completion Card to students who received a grade of 80% or better on the Course Completion Examination.
• Mail thank you letters to Faculty.
• Mail follow-up letters to Faculty with evaluation summary of their sessions.
  
  

As part of the decision to conduct an APLS Course and establish the registration fee, the Course Director will likely want to first create a budget to fully understand and anticipate the expenses involved in implementing the course. Listed below are suggested items for inclusion in this budget.

Promotional Expenses:

• Marketing development, design, printing, and mailing
• Cost of advertisements or other promotional activities

Course Director and Faculty Expenses:

• Course Director and Faculty transportation, lodging, meals, and honorarium (if appropriate). (Note: Recommended student: Faculty ratio for Small Group Discussions and Skill Stations is 6:1.)
• Equipment Manager honorarium (if appropriate)
• Support Staff honorarium (if appropriate)
• Transportation, lodging, and meals
• Planning Committee Expenses (if appropriate)
• Transportation, lodging, and meals

Equipment Purchase and/or Rental Expenses:

• Disposable supplies for Skill Stations
• Equipment purchase and rental for Skill Stations
• Audiovisual equipment

Facility Expenses:

• Rental fee for general session and breakout rooms
• Meeting coordinator charges
• Charges for meals and refreshment breaks

Course Supply Expenses:

• One copy of APLS: The Pediatric Emergency Medicine Resource, Fifth Edition for each Faculty member and student
• At least one copy of the APLS Instructor's ToolKit CD-ROM
• Folders for course materials
• Name badges
• Registration supplies​

Copying Expenses:

• Faculty and student lists
• Student course materials
• Faculty course materials
• APLS Course Completion Examinations
• Course Evaluation forms

Postage Expenses:

• Faculty and student confirmation letters
• Student resource manuals
• Faculty materials
• Miscellaneous correspondence​