actual treatment recommendations to make sure they
are scientifically valid.
Epstein explains further how the American Red Cross
partners with the American Heart Association (AHA)
to co-develop, co-write, and co-brand the first aid
guidelines across the United States.
“Working with our Scientific Advisory Council, the
American Red Cross develops our own guidelines to be
consistent with the ILCOR science and also to remain
consistent with AHA guidelines,” Epstein says. “The
guidelines and recommendations for both the
American Red Cross and AHA are born out of the
same science, the same base recommendation, the
same body of work—that is, the resuscitation science
that comes directly from ILCOR. Through our process,
we ensure that we are true to the science and the
evidence as best we can in the implementation of our
recommendations for healthcare professionals.”
American Red Cross Scientific Advisory
Council
Behind every American Red Cross training program
stands the Scientific Advisory Council. This council
includes more than 50 leading medical, scientific,
educational, and academic experts nationwide.
Together, these leaders ensure that every American
Red Cross training program is based on the latest and
best emergency science.
Which Resuscitation Programs Are
Accepted for Joint Commission
Accreditation?
“The Joint Commission does not have a restriction on
which organizations can be used to meet resuscitation
training requirements. Both the Joint Commission and
the National Registry of EMTs have told us in writing
that the American Red Cross program is acceptable,”
Epstein explains.
In order to receive Joint Commission accreditation, all
hospital staff who would respond to an emergency
need to have the competency to successfully carry out
resuscitation. Gaining this competency can be done by
having all healthcare professionals participate in a
standardized resuscitation program, such as the
“The guidelines and
recommendations for both
the American Red Cross and
AHA are born out of the
same science, the same base
recommendation, the same
body of work—that is, the
resuscitation science that
comes directly from ILCOR.”
American Red Cross BLS, ALS, or PALS course, or a
similar course from another institution.
Epstein comments, “There is no legal or regulatory
language in any of the states that precludes a hospital or
healthcare institution from utilizing the American Red
Cross to meet the requirement of having a CPR-
certified card. There are no legal statutory or
regulatory bars that would block other organizations
from developing programs, as long as they are using
ILCOR science and following the ILCOR pathway. In
fact, most regulations include language about programs
meeting a ‘standard of or equivalency’ because it would
legally be a restriction of trade to have a regulation that
bars any other organization.”
Epstein adds, “I think once hospitals and other
healthcare systems learn what the Joint Commission
rules actually say, and look at our consistency with the
ILCOR consensus science for treatment
recommendations, they will be more than satisfied to
say that the American Red Cross is an acceptable
standard within their internal credentialing committees.”
Why Choose the American Red Cross?
“Our science is solid when considering using the
American Red Cross for resuscitation training,” Epstein
explains. “The science is based in ILCOR, making us an
equal partner with other organizations developing
programs based on ILCOR science. But, what does set
us apart is our flexibility.”