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VGH Simulation Centre offers a variety of courses, including Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) through the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada. These courses provide the opportunity to practice scenarios that mirror real life situations, helping you in your role as a healthcare provider. This includes covering a wide range of life-threatening scenarios that involve systems of care, immediate post-cardiac arrest care, acute dysrhythmia, stroke, and acute coronary syndromes. The aim of our courses is to strengthen your ability to communicate and work effectively as a critical member of a team.
Course Information
BLS Provider
Foundational course for any health care professional who provides care to patients in a wide variety of settings. BLS Provider is essentially the same as a CPR course, but more geared towards health care providers. The course will cover CPR, AED use, and choking in adults, children, and infants, as well as airway management and opioid-related emergencies. Valid for 1 year.
Duration: 4 hrs, in-person
Prereqs: None
*Please note this is not a BLS Renewal - we do not require proof of previous course completion to take this course*
ACLS Renewal with BLS
For those who have previously completed their ACLS certification and want to refresh their skills. This is a full traditional course (all ACLS materials covered in-person). BLS is included in this ACLS course. Valid for 2 years.
Duration: 8 hrs, in-person
Prereqs:
Current Heart & Stroke ACLS Certification
Blended BLS Modules
Precourse Self-Assessment
Note on ACLS Renewal: To be eligible to take the ACLS Renewal, you MUST hold a current ACLS certificate. Exceptions may be made on a case by case basis (please reach out to us at vghsim@vch.ca if this applies to you). However, should you not pass any of the assessments at the end of the course, you will not be eligible for remediation, as per Heart & Stroke Policy. In which case you will have to register and complete an ACLS Provider Course (Blended or 2-Day).
*Those with a current and valid ACLS certification who are not successful at the end of the session are eligible for remediation with a member of our instructor pool*
Blended ACLS Provider with BLS
For those who have never taken ACLS or those whose previous certification has expired. This is a blended format course (combination online and in-person). Learning modules and the written exam are done online, with the class time reserved for skill and simulation practice. This format is ideal for learners who prefer to work through material at their own pace, or who may already be familiar with the concepts that are taught in ACLS. BLS is included in this ACLS course. Valid for 2 years.
Duration: 6-8 hrs online + 8 hrs in-person
Prereqs:
Blended ACLS Modules
Blended BLS Modules
Precourse Self-Assessment
*Those who are not successful at the end of the in-person session are eligible for remediation with a member of our instructor pool*
Please note that prerequisites must be completed and proof must be shown to the VGH Sim team (either by email at vghsim@vch.ca or in-person) before the start of the course. After you have prepaid for your seat, you will receive an email with a list of prerequisites for your session. If they are not completed, you will not be able to attend the course and your fee will not be refunded.
Course Fees
Please note you must enter a valid VCH email address when requesting a seat to be eligible for the VCH discounted pricing. If you would like for us to reach out to you at a different email address, please leave a note at the end of your request form submission. Thank you.
Upcoming Courses
Note: We do not offer BLS Renewals. You can still register for a BLS Provider if you have a previous BLS certification.
Resources
Payment
Payment is required to reserve a seat within a course. Click on the 'Request a Seat' button next to the course you're interested in and you will be emailed payment instructions.
Payment Options:
Pay-by-Phone (Credit Card): 604-875-4623
In-Person (Credit Card, Cash, Cheque): VGH SIM staff office
Hours of Operation: (8 am - 4 pm, Mon - Fri) These dates/time may fluctuate to meet operational needs. Please check our Courses website to see which days the centre will be closed (look for the banner at the top of the screen).
VGH SIM Staff Office Location: VGH Blackmore Pavilion, 2nd floor, Room 244 (follow directional floor signage). You can also try calling our support line (604-875-4623) to arrange a time to come by and pay. We may not always be in the office due to operational needs; we appreciate your understanding and flexibility. You will also receive an automated email with these payment instructions.
Please note:
ACLS and BLS: Payment, refunds, cancellations, and transfers
Full payment is required to secure a course seat. Seats are assigned in the order payment is received, and registration is confirmed only after payment.
If you need to cancel or transfer to another course date, please contact us before your course begins:
14 or more business days’ notice: You may request a full refund or transfer, provided you have not accessed the Heart & Stroke online content.
13 – 4 business days’ notice: You may request a partial refund or transfer after an administrative fee of $48 for BLS or $150 for ACLS.
Fewer than 3 business days’ notice, or a no-show: The full course fee is forfeited. Refunds and transfers are unavailable.
VGH Simulation Centre may cancel or reschedule a course due to low enrolment, instructor availability, facility issues, or unforeseen circumstances. If we do, you may transfer to a future course date or receive a refund of the course fee paid.
About ACLS and BLS course fees
VGH Simulation Centre’s ACLS and BLS courses are not part of a funded program. Clinicians created this service for VCH staff using a low-cost, non-profit model. Course fees cover the cost of delivering the education and maintaining equipment, with all fees reinvested in the initiative.
Some VCH departments support the program by providing instructors or instructional materials and therefore have an adjusted course fee. Thank you for helping us keep quality ACLS and BLS education accessible and sustainable.
VCH Healthcare Summer Camp refund policy
Cancellations made more than 7 days before the camp starts are eligible for a full refund to the original payment method. Cancellations made within 7 days of the start date are subject to a $125 cancellation fee; the remaining amount will be refunded to the original payment method.
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