Just kidding, that’s in February but got your attention! Honestly, I laughed when I read a research paper published in the European Society of Cardiology. The researchers created a supermarket trolley set to help diagnose common heart rhythm disorders and prevent stroke. So, you go grocery shopping and as you push your cart the handle performs a heart check on you. I wonder if this is used to explain the cardiac events that might occur when you go to check out and see the total bill?

All kidding aside, those of us working in the SNF world know the rules, staff MUST be trained in CPR per the regulations. We know it, we do it, we don’t love it. JAMDA published an interesting article on the effectiveness of CPR, did you know that the percentage of residents 70-79 years of age who survived post-resuscitation for 30 days was only 6.7%, 80-89 year old – 4.4% and those over 90 years old 2.4% Wow, those aren’t great odds when you consider what is involved in performing CPR!

Now bring on the AED controversy, should AEDs be the standard for CPR in US nursing facilities? Some would argue that placing any new requirements on facility staff is unreasonable until adequate staffing can be achieved, however, because staff are required to be BLS/CPR trained (which includes AED training), giving staff the tools to implement their knowledge might not be burdensome. Of course, it is important to obtain advanced informed consent for CPR and there is a need for updated studies of the outcomes of CPR with and without AEDs. That said, medical directors and their teams have the potential to raise the bar of current practice for the benefit of those we care for. Are AEDs in your future? Maybe, maybe not. If so, remember to evaluate the competency of your staff, just because they were trained in their CPR course doesn’t mean they are competent. Add this to your annual competency checklist if using AEDs and refer to the HealthCap Resource and Education Center for more resources, policies and protocols on CPR and AEDs. Stay well and stay informed!

For more information:

Automatic Electric Defibrillators Policy and Procedure

BLS Healthcare Provider Adult Cardiac Arrest Algorithm for Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 Patients

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Policy and Procedure