FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Christiansburg Rescue implements new digital resuscitation education program to improve out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival
Innovative program verifies CPR competence, improves performance and provides adaptive learning; agency first to adopt in Virginia
CHRISTIANSBURG, Va., March 30, 2021 — According to the American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary organization dedicated to a world of longer, healthier lives, more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the U.S. annually. About 90% of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest die. Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a time-critical, life-threatening condition that requires peak, high-quality performance by prehospital and public safety responders.
Cardiac arrest victims must receive the highest quality CPR possible, which is known to be the cornerstone for survival. Christiansburg Rescue is taking a significant step to improve outcomes, announcing its implementation of an innovative resuscitation quality improvement program to advance the prehospital response to cardiac arrest events.
Christiansburg Rescue has adopted RQI® Prehospital Healthcare Provider, a proven approach for achieving and sustaining verified competence in high-quality CPR. The program is co-developed by the American Heart Association, Laerdal Medical and the Resuscitation Academy Foundation and delivered by RQI Partners. A third-service municipal EMS agency serving the Town of Christiansburg and Montgomery County since 1947 and comprised of volunteers and full- and part-time staff, Christiansburg Rescue is the first agency in Virginia to implement the program, enrolling 75 providers.
“Christiansburg Rescue prides itself on providing efficient, high-quality healthcare by following evidence-based science and on the progressive stance we take in early adoption of novel medical techniques and resuscitation education and technology,” said Deputy Chief Dustin Williams. “The path to RQI was simple — our providers were not retaining their CPR skills and knowledge through the traditional every-two-years-model, and then COVID-19 struck. We needed a solution that would deliver ongoing instruction, maintain compliance and keep our staff members safe. RQI is a game changer, affording benefits to our providers, partner agencies and the greater community.”
RQI Prehospital Healthcare Provider presents a high-reliability platform for self-directed, simulation-based mastery learning and performance, which is implemented through short, quarterly CPR eLearning modules and skills sessions to verify competence in high-quality CPR. An offering in the Association’s digital resuscitation portfolio, RQI uses True Adaptive™ learning to deliver Basic Life Support, Advance Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support courses that are tailored and personalized to meet an individual’s specific knowledge level and unique needs, adapting in real time to a learner’s performance. The program also provides analytics that track compliance.
“Public safety and EMS providers are at different stages on their path to high-quality CPR and it is imperative that we recognize and accommodate the varying degrees of competence,” said David LaCombe, RQI Partners’ vice president of prehospital programs. “The True Adaptive learning experience maximizes providers’ learning potential, increases their knowledge retention and empowers them as critical links in the chain of survival. We salute Christiansburg Rescue for demonstrating leadership in CPR preparedness to respond to cardiac arrest events.”
To deliver RQI Prehospital Healthcare Provider courses, Christiansburg Rescue is leveraging a new addition to the Association’s digital resuscitation portfolio — the RQI-P GO solution. Launched last October, RQI-P GO is a compact, modular and mobile system designed for healthcare facilities and prehospital and public safety organizations that may not have access to a traditional RQI simulation station or operate locations distributed across a city or county, respectively. RQI-P GO affords the same course instruction and real-time feedback as a traditional RQI simulation station, without sacrificing quality.
“We are excited about the far-reaching potential of the RQI-P GO solution,” Deputy Chief Williams said. “The mobile attribute will be beneficial in expanding the RQI footprint and providing CPR instruction to our partner agencies, including our police department, and the community at-large. Christiansburg Rescue is committed to investing in our staff and the community in which we live and serve to collectively help improve cardiac arrest survival.”
To learn more about Christiansburg Rescue, visit www.christiansburg.org/rescue. Visit heart.org and www.rqipartners.com to learn more about the RQI program and the Association’s digital resuscitation portfolio.
###
About Christiansburg Rescue
Christiansburg Rescue is a third-service municipal EMS agency in Virginia. We have been proudly serving the Town of Christiansburg and Montgomery County since 1947. Our call volume is approximately 4,500 calls annually, the highest among all Montgomery County EMS agencies. In addition to emergency medical services, we provide a variety of technical rescue disciplines.
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
About Laerdal Medical
Laerdal is dedicated to our mission of helping save lives. For more than 60 years, Laerdal has remained a world leader in healthcare education, training and therapy solutions. Laerdal develops products, programs and digital solutions designed to increase survival and improve patient outcomes. By implementing evidence-based solutions within the areas of resuscitation, patient safety and global health, we address the changing needs of healthcare organizations and help build competence of healthcare providers, educators and lay rescuers. Together with our partners, we believe we can help save one million more lives, every year. Laerdal is a global company in 25 countries worldwide with the head office located in Stavanger, Norway. For more information, visit www.laerdal.com.
About RQI Partners LLC
RQI Partners LLC is a partnership between the American Heart Association and Laerdal Medical, positioning the organizations to deliver innovative solutions that accelerate the impact of their lifesaving mission. The company blends the Association’s leadership in science and resuscitation education with Laerdal’s expertise in technology and implementation to deliver impactful and innovative resuscitation quality improvement programs. For more information, visit www.rqipartners.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
For Media Inquiries, contact:
Amy Southall
asouthall@christiansburg.org
540-382-6128, ext. 1151
