The Ambulance Emergency Assistant (AEA) or the Intermediate Life Support (ILS) paramedic is required to complete 60 CPD points (of which 10 CPD points needs to be ethical points) over a 2 year period to keep their registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).The CPD point system was introduced to ensure that paramedics and other medical staff stays current with the latest teachings and techniques. CPD points can be obtained by attending a host of short presentations over the 2-year period but may cost a lot of money and could at times become inconvenient as they clash with working hours or family time in the evenings. If this sounds familiar, we have just the solution for you!
Absolute Health Services has been accredited by the Durban University of Technology (DUT) to offer Ambulance Emergency Assistant (AEA) Refresher CPD program. This program is also accepted by the HPCSA for CPD purposes. On completion of our Ambulance Emergency Assistant CPD program you will be awarded a total of 31 CPD points (of which 6 points are ethical CPD points)! Should you choose to complete either your BLS for Healthcare Providers or CPR for Professionals courses you will be awarded another 15 CPD points bringing your total to 46 CPD of the required 60 CPD points! To make things even better our Ambulance Emergency Assistant (AEA) Refresher course has been approved as a 1-day course meaning less time in the classroom! You will receive a workbook to complete at your own time which counts 20% towards your final mark. Candidates will then come and spend 1 day with us to write the theoretical exam, complete 8 OSCEs and a patient simulation. The Ambulance Emergency Assistant (AEA) Refresher course is also available as a 4-day full contact course if groups of 6 or more candidates are interested in this option.
Our Ambulance Emergency Assistant (AEA) Refresher CPD course includes the following chapters:
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- Introduction and basic principles of BLS – We review the importance of going back to basics and that it is usually the simple manoeuvres that saves lives;
- Ethics – Ethics can be a tedious topic but we have managed to incorporate real life ethical dilemmas which we have encountered during our years in the prehospital emergency; services as paramedics and hopefully assist other paramedics on how to deal with them
- Triage – The importance of adequate triage is critical and it is something that is often not done on mass casualty scenes;
- Terminology, positioning and anatomy – In this chapter we do a quick review on terminology that a lot of AEA’s forget over the years as well as important anatomy and physiology;
- Emergency scene and patient assessment – Many scenes are inadequately protected as paramedics often rush in to treat the sick and injured. This often results in secondary motor vehicle accidents. As the senior on most ambulances the Ambulance Emergency Assistant need to be aware of this;
- Medical emergencies – We cover all the medical emergencies which are seen on a day to day basis;
- Fundamentals of the ECG – We developed the ECG chapter to reteach ECG diagnoses as many paramedics have difficulty in interpreting the ECG;
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and choking – CPR and choking is covered extensively as it is a subject every paramedic deals with on a regular basis;
- Bleeding and wounds – Effective bleeding control and wound care manoeuvres are discussed;
- Burns – The basics of burn wounds are discussed along with effective treatment and the Parkland’s Burn Formula;
- Fractures and sprains – Types and treatment of fractures and sprains are discussed in detail;
- Head injuries, spinal injuries, and shock – These conditions can be life-threatening and the correct intervention is critical, but signs are often overlooked;
- Intravenous Fluids – Updated fluid treatment techniques are discussed along with different types of fluids used for IV therapy;
- Poisoning, bites, and stings – Life-threatening bites and stings are not often seen by paramedics and effective treatment is often forgotten. In this chapter we revise these important techniques;
- Chest injuries – Traumatic chest injuries are discussed in detail along with needle thoracentesis;
- Abdominal injuries – Bleeding internally can lead to death very quickly if a paramedic doesn’t act fast and get the patient to a theatre. Various abdominal injuries are discussed;
- Environmental emergencies and injuries – Various injuries related to extreme temperatures are discussed;
- Drowning – Different types of drowning and other water-borne injuries are discussed;
- Childbirth – Emergency childbirth is discussed along with delivering a breached baby
- Patient simulation – Since AEAs are qualified we have decided to assess the patient simulation as group assessments to assess your working ability in a group instead of as an individual;
- OSCES – All OSCEs are discussed of which 8 will be attempted in the examination;
- AEA Protocols – Current Ambulance Emergency Assistant Protocols are discussed.
Please note
If your HPCSA Ambulance Emergency Assistant (AEA) registration has lapsed and you are wanting to be restored onto the register our Ambulance Emergency Assistant (AEA) Refresher course is valid for this purpose. According to Form 341 of the HPCSA if your registration has lapsed for less than 24 months you can complete our Refresher program, if it has lapsed for more than 24 months however you will need to complete a full set of exams at a University approved for this purpose.
Our 4-day Ambulance Emergency Assistant Refresher CPD course option includes a summary of the new Paramedic CPG updates, but we do not offer the CPG updates as the medicine has not been approved by the SA Medicines Control Association as yet.
