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Resuscitation Quality Improvement® (RQI®) in Canada

Implementing spaced learning and directive feedback for “perfect practice”

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Nurse Performing CPR on RQI Station

A self-guided, fully digital cognitive and skills CPR-learning solution

Many healthcare providers do not perform CPR as a normal part of their daily practice, and some may rarely perform CPR after completing their training course. As CPR compression and ventilation skills degrade from lack of use and practice, so does the overall effectiveness of CPR. As the quality of CPR degrades, this can literally become a matter of life and death for patients. Fortunately, you don’t have to invest hours every day to improve and maintain your proficiency. Brief and regular practice in CPR – low-dose/high-frequency education – has been shown to lead to better skills.

The American Heart Association’s (AHA) Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) programs, supported and endorsed by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, offer:

  • a high-reliability platform for simulation-based mastery learning that measures and verifies competence,
  • low-dose, high-frequency quality improvement sessions to prevent skill decay,
  • standardized skills assessment featuring real-time, audiovisual corrective feedback and performance summaries for high-quality CPR skills,
  • smart adaptive eLearning and self-directed skills assessment that support safely distanced education,
  • self-paced learning that can be completed at the point of care and as the providers’ schedules allow,
  • and co-branded AHA and Heart and Stroke eCertifications for Healthcare Provider (BLS), ALS, and PALS.
Nurse Practicing CRP on RQI Station

Heart & Stroke

Heart & Stroke

TM The heart and / Icon and the Heart & Stroke word mark are trademarks of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada used under license.

1x Year Training Cycle Graph English Version

“Traditional Basic Life Support training has been the standard for decades, but studies show CPR skills can decay within three to six months following this instruction. The design of the RQI programs bring consistency and frequency to resuscitation education, which are key to improving health care providers’ ability to deliver high-quality CPR when responding to cardiac arrest events. Ensuring every patient has the best chance of survival every time means eradicating ‘skills decay’ and building ‘skills mastery’.”

*Adam Cheng, Director, Research and Development, KidSIM Simulation Program, Alberta Children’s Hospital, Department of Paediatrics, University of Calgary

“HeartCode has been a lifesaver for us. It allows us the flexibility for staffing to meet both our managers’ and associates’ schedules.”
Deb Torman, MBA, MEd, AT, ATC, EMT-P
Canada-South Bruce Grey Health Centre
Testimonial South Bruce Grey Health Centre

Customer Success with RQI Programs

Nova Scotia Health

Nova Scotia Health

Nova Scotia Health, the largest provider of health services in Nova Scotia, has transformed their delivery of CPR training province-wide by implementing RQI as their standard for basic and advanced life support training.

Read more about Nova Scotia Health success with the RQI program in this case study

Nova Scotia Health

Eastern Regional Health Authority

Eastern Health, Newfoundland and Labrador’s largest integrated health authority, has yielded organization-high compliance rates by utilizing the digital CPR training of the RQI program.

Read more about Eastern Health’s success with the RQI program in this case study

Testimonials

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Dr. Gail Tomblin Murphy
Red Quote
“We are focused on improving patient outcomes and decreasing preventable deaths from cardiac arrests – not just in our hospitals, but in our communities. As the first province in Canada to implement the resuscitation quality improvement platform, we are proud to be supporting our staff in their mastery of these lifesaving skills.”
Dr. Gail Tomblin Murphy
Vice President, Research, Innovation and Discovery and Chief Nurse Executive, Nova Scotia Health
Lesley Lambe
Red Quote
“Some significant challenges with our previous learning were getting the people in the classes, staffing shortages, overtime, forgetting their renewal dates and just not wanting to sit in a class for 3 hours to complete their BLS.”
Lesley Lambe
Education Consultant, Learning and Development, Eastern Health
Haley Avery
Red Quote
“The pandemic has really thrown a wrench into how we provide education and CNE’s have consistently had to adapt in so many ways. I support the practice of 220 ED clinical staff so ensuring that staff can maintain BLS and ACLS certification has been very challenging. RQI makes so much sense for accessibility, flexibility and most importantly to ensure that staff are maintaining their competency. I am consistently hearing from learners that they like the RQI approach to learning because of its flexibility and also that it keeps the education content fresh in their mind. Staff no longer need to worry about finding nearby courses or using precious days off to attend. I think RQI is a step in the right direction for us all.”
Haley Avery
Clinical Nurse Educator, Nova Scotia Health
Tina Cadigan
Red Quote
“RQI is an innovative, flexible program that give our staff the ability to control when and where they update their BLS - 24/7/365. RQI provides real-time feedback of their own BLS skills and leads to an improvement in the quality of BLS for our patients, saving lives.”
Tina Cadigan
Education Consultant, Learning and Development, Eastern Health
Lindsay Fraser
Red Quote
“From my perspective, I really like the fact that the staff didn’t just go through the motions of performing CPR on a dummy, they actually improved skills due to the real time feedback, for example a big problem that I identified was staff obtaining a proper seal for bag/mask ventilation, this would not have been identified without the RQI feedback and the quarterly sessions allow staff to maintain their competency and track their progress. The station itself is extremely user friendly and has loads of the most up to date resource material.”
Lindsay Fraser
Clinical Nurse Educator, Nova Scotia Health
Lesley Lambe
Red Quote
“The one major impact that RQI has had on my facilities is compliance. We had a very low compliance rate and now in just 1 year we are over 90% which has never happened in my 12 years in this position.”
Lesley Lambe
Education Consultant, Learning and Development, Eastern Health
Glenda Howie
Red Quote
“Obtaining BLS was challenging due to instructor availability which worsened with the Covid Pandemic as class sizes were reduced. RQI’s anytime anywhere approach and accessible station makes attaining BLS flexible and convenient. The SIM skills station allows hands on practice and the audiovisual feedback is great for real time improvements in skills. The RQI program has been a positive experience and has improved competence and confidence in our resuscitation team.”
Glenda Howie
Clinical Nurse Educator, Nova Scotia Health
Lesley Lambe
Red Quote
“Staff members are better prepared for cardiac events because their compressions are better, they are improved in rate and depth, and their overall skills are better.”
Lesley Lambe
Education Consultant, Learning and Development, Eastern Health
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The time is now to save more lives. Learn how RQI can help.

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