Purpose
The Academy provides continuing medical education and professional development to Health Care Practitioners to achieve competence and skills in the management of the critically ill or injured patients
Registration
The Academy is a registered CC (# 2000/076708/23) established in 2000 for the purpose of providing undergraduate and post-graduate further education.
Accreditation
The Academy is accredited to provide Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support for Experienced Providers (ACLS-EP) and Paediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) programmes of the American Heart Association through the Resuscitation Council of Southern Africa.
It is accredited by BTLS International Inc. and the University of Alabama, USA, to provide the Advanced Level of Trauma Life Support courses, Advanced Trauma Management which are accredited by the Heath Professionals Council of South Africa, (HPCSA), for CPD/CME points.
The immediate management of Acute Medical Emergencies course covers the management of a range of medical emergencies.
Looking Back
Although the Academy was only formalised in 2000 as a Close Corporation, Dr GE Dimopoulos has been involved in providing Advanced Life Support courses since 1992 when the first course, Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) was introduced into South Africa, then Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS, 1995), Paediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS, 1997), and Advanced BTLS (2000)
He has been actively involved in teaching and training over 3 000 Medical Doctors, including Doctors from overseas.
The Academy moved into new premises in Medical Centre West, Entabeni Hospital, on 1 April 2001 when Gill Dimopoulos (Administration) and Dr Alex Dimopoulos joined the Staff to assist with the courses.
Dr Bola Oyebola joined the academy in 2010 as an additional ALS instructor.
Programme Methodology and Technology
The Academy provides courses over a 1, 2 or 3 day period, weekends, 3 or 4 times each month accommodating up to 10 candidates on each course.
The Academy is fully equipped with the latest equipment, digital projection, advanced life support manikins, adult, child and infant, an array of CPR manikins, ECG monitors capable of defibrillation, cardioversion and external cardiac pacing as well as automated external defibrillators. There is a vast range or airway management equipment including ventilators, Pulse Oximeters and Blood Gas analysers.
All presentations are produced in “Powerpoint”. All candidate information, test result etc are captured in a Data-base and reports are sent to the accrediting Authorities.
All courses include comprehensive manuals, notes, “Aide Memoires”, which are supplied to candidates at least one month before the commencement of the course.
On successful completion, each candidate receives a certificate.
All Courses provided by the Academy have been accredited by the Health Professionals Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and a certificate is issued to each candidate indicating their CPD allocation. (Electronic transfer)
Looking forward
The Academy is now in the process of venturing into new courses to satisfy demands. These will include one-day “Skills Workshops” and evening sessions with short courses in the “Immediate Management Series” covering subjects such as advanced airway management, toxicology, obstetrical emergencies etc.
