About Us
Official Designation: Authorized Provider of CPR and ECC Courses by the American Heart Association, Multi-Regional Training Center
History
Acute Care Education Systems Inc. (ACES) was founded in 1999 by Doug Miller after his nearly 21 years as a licensed paramedic (including 6 years with the Chicago Fire Department), Emergency Medical Services educator, researcher and writer. He has held ACLS, PALS and BLS Regional Faculty appointments with the American Heart Association since 1991. His emergency medical teaching and public speaking abilities are well known in Chicago area EMS and American Heart Association circles, leading to numerous local media appearances as well as several appearances on the Oprah Winfrey Show.
From 1994 until December 2002 Doug was the EMS/Resuscitation Education Coordinator and the American Heart Association Training Center Coordinator (ACLS/PALS/BLS) at UIC Medical Center. In addition, from 1993 until 2001 he was a consulting instructor/course director with Richard Ritt's Life Support Systems Inc. In 2001 Doug purchased Life Support Systems Inc. and subsequently has acquired nine other Training Centers, making them all part of ACES.
From July 1, 2001 to June 30, 2002 ACES instructors trained 15,897 participants in ACLS, PALS and BLS. From July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003 31,429 participants were trained. Over the past several years ACES has taught an average of 55,000 participants annually making it the most productive Training Center in Illinois and one of the most productive in the United States. With approximately 3408 American Heart Association Training Centers nation-wide, ACES consistently ranks among the top 20 and has received numerous American Heart Association recognitions including the coveted 'Excellence in Training' award.
The primary mission of ACES is to provide physicians, physician assistants, nurses, advanced practice nurses, paramedics, respiratory therapists, clinical pharmacists and other healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to become either effective resuscitation team leaders or team members in cardiac arrest or near arrest situations. In addition, ACES has expanded its role in the training and support of corporate CPR/AED/First Aid responders. Acute Care Education Systems Inc. follows the strict training formats set forth by the American Heart Association.
ACES serves as a resource for 600 American Heart Association instructors who teach Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS). Instructors have a support base of 10 American Heart Association Regional Faculty members. Regional Faculty members are veteran instructors and course directors recognized by the American Heart Association for their outstanding contributions to CPR and Emergency Cardiac Care (ECC) programs. They serve as mentors, instructor trainers and as resources for instructors requiring clarification of the teaching material. They are also involved with quality improvement activities with respect to American Heart Association programs.
