PALS Plus®: Child Abuse

PALS Plus™: Child Abuse; Enduring Web Course

Original Release Date: 11/15/2022

Last Review Date: September 2025

Termination Date: 11/14/2026

Description
The purpose of this module is to discuss the concepts and interventions related to pediatric child abuse. The content will include topics such as recognition of risk for abuse, understanding gross-motor development, recognition of “red flags,” distinguishing bruising patterns, burn characteristics, and recognition of potential exposure to illicit substances.

Learning Objectives
At the conclusion, participants should be able to:

1. Recognize signs and symptoms associated with physical abuse in infants and children
2. Describe the appropriate approach to the diagnostic evaluation for physical abuse in infants and children
3. Demonstrate systems-based components of caring for an infant or a child with physical abuse
4. Recognize patients presentations suggestive of human trafficking

Accreditation Terms

Joint Accreditation: 11/15/2025 – 11/14/2026

CAPCE: 11/15/2025 – 11/14/2026

AARC: N/A

Accreditation Statements

Joint Accreditation Statements
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the American Heart Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The American Heart Association is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

AMA Credit Designation Statement - Physicians
The American Heart Association designates this activity for a maximum of 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

AAPA Credit Acceptance Statement – Physician Associates
AAPA accepts certificates of participation for educational activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by ACCME or a recognized state medical society. Physician associates may receive a maximum of 0.25 hours of Category I credit for completing this program.

AANP Credit Acceptance Statement – Nurse Practitioners
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) accepts AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM from organizations accredited by the ACCME.

ANCC Credit Designation Statement - Nurses
The maximum number of hours awarded for this CE activity is 0.25 contact hours.

Continuing Education Accreditation – Emergency Medical Services
This continuing education activity is approved by the American Heart Association, an organization accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE), for 0.50 Advanced CEHs, activity number 25-AMHA-F3-0055.

By claiming CAPCE credit, the claimant acknowledges the following: I understand that the American Heart Association as a requirement of CAPCE accreditation will submit a record of my course completions to the CAPCE AMS. I further understand that my course completion records may be accessed by or shared with such regulators as state EMS offices, training officers, and NREMT on a password-protected, need-to-know basis. In addition, I understand that I may review my record of CAPCE-accredited course completions by contacting CAPCE.

Participation and Successful Completion
Successful completion of this CE activity includes the following:

1. Complete all portions of the online course
2. Complete the course evaluation
3. Print the Certificate/Statement of Credit

Disclosure Statement
All persons in a position to control educational content of a CE activity provided by the American Heart Association must disclose to the audience all financial relationships with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. The presence or absence of all financial relationships will be disclosed to the audience in activity materials. All unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs or devices discussed will also be disclosed to the audience. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.

The following authors/faculty have declared NO financial interest(s) and/or affiliations:

Marc Auerbach, MD, MSc
Andrea Asnes, MD, MSW
Maya Dewan, MD, MPH
Jeremy Dymond, RN
Melissa Marx
Comilla Sasson, MD, PhD
Amber Rodriguez, PhD

This list represents the relationships that may be perceived as actual or reasonable conflicts of interest as reported on the Disclosure Questionnaire, which all AHA volunteers are required to complete and submit. The focus is on relevant financial relationships with commercial interests in the 24-month period preceding the time that the individual is being asked to assume a role controlling content:

N/A

Target Audiences
1. Physicians
2. Nurse Practitioners
3. Physician Associates
4. Nurses
5. EMS

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