Emergency Neurological Life Support (ENLS) Training Recommended by Joint Commission

MINNEAPOLIS, April 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Neurocritical Care Society The Neurocritical Care Society (NCS) recently acknowledged recommendation that Emergency Neurological Life Support (ENLS) training may satisfy physician and staff continuing education training requirements for Comprehensive Stroke Center certification in neurointensive care practitioner coverage.  The Joint Commission, an organization that accredits more than 21,000 health care organizations in the United States, has updated its Standards Interpretation to include the requirement that in order to provide 24 hour-a-day, 7 days-a week coverage for patients in neuro-intensive care beds, a provider must meet a number of requirements, including "training and experience in neurocritical and cerebrovascular care."  The manual goes on to state, "Training in cerebrovascular and neurocritical care can be demonstrated through completion of a comprehensive educational program focusing on neurological emergencies.  One example of this is Emergency Neurological Life Support (ENLS) certification."[1]  A majority of state governments recognize Joint Commission accreditation as a condition of licensure.

ENLS is a comprehensive educational program created by the Neurocritical Care Society to help healthcare professionals manage patients during the critical first hours of a patient's neurological emergency. ENLS demonstrates a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach and provides a consistent set of protocols, practical checklists, decision points, and suggested communication to use during critical patient management of 13 emergency neurological conditions.  This multi-disciplinary course is appropriate for all caregivers involved in the management of neurological emergencies including first responders, ED physicians and nurses, the ICU clinical team, trainees, pharmacists, and others. 

"The overwhelming enthusiasm for the development and initiation of Emergency Neurological Life Support underscores the need to fill what has been a public educational void in the initial treatment of patients with acute neurological disease," said Edward Manno MD, FNCS, President of the Neurocritical Care Society.  "We are pleased that ENLS has been acknowledged by the Joint Commission as a satisfactory means of meeting this Standard and look forward to expanding the reach of this important training for the benefit of neurocritical patients worldwide."

Originally created as a tutorial to teach what a skilled neurointensivist would advise to a treating physician or nurse when confronting a neurological emergency, more than 3,175 medical professionals around the world are now certified in ENLS, having completed training at one of 46 live courses offered within the United States, one of 12 courses offered outside the United States, or a detailed online course module.  More about ENLS can be found at http://neurocriticalcare.org/ENLS.

The Neurocritical Care Society (NCS) is an international, multidisciplinary medical society with more than 1,400 members worldwide.  The mission of the Neurocritical Care Society is to improve outcomes for patients with life-threatening neurological illnesses.  For more information about the Neurocritical Care Society, visit its website at www.neurocriticalcare.org.

[1] "The Joint Commission." Standards FAQ Details. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.

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SOURCE Neurocritical Care Society

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