Heartland CPR: Flashback: Oklahoma's Nursing Times (May 2014)

BOOM! Idea Leads to Boom for Heartland CPR (appeared in Oklahoma's Nursing Times, May 2014)

For more than 10 years, Heartland CPR has provided quality training to groups and individuals that need to receive or renew AHA certifications for CPR, AED, BLS, ACLS and PALS in the Oklahoma City metro area and across the state.

In October 2003, Ginger Davis had little more than the idea of meeting a critical need that no one else was addressing consistently- CPR training classes.

"It was something that was badly needed in they field and I had the background in business and organization and scheduling," Davis said. "You've got a lot of people in this business that are either a great teacher or a great organizer, but nobody really bring the two together."

What started as her husband, Brian Davis, conducting a few training classes with mannequins at night in their home developed into a thriving, woman-owned small business eight instructors. It's no surprise that most of the clients find them through word of mouth, either.

The reason they're so popular is a simple one: a friendly and encouraging atmosphere that really teaches people what they need to know. Professionals and families alike go back to Heartland CPR again and again for certification.

A CLASS ABOVE THE REST

The idea came to Davis because of calls her husband was receiving at work. At the time, Brian Davis was the EMS Director for Edmond Fire Department; he would receive calls after call asking about CPR training classes. To the Davises' surprise, there wasn't a dependable source for regular classes. Once they acquired American Heart Association alignment, materials and supplies, they were well on their way to changing that. She called the startup Custom Training Solutions.

At first, Ginger Davis handled the administrative end, while Brian handled the classes. These days Heartland CPR is BBB accredited, with an A+ rating and a Torch Award nomination under it's belt. The company has diversified its training disciplines from simple CPR and is also officially recognized by the State of Oklahoma to conduct training for government contractors.

Ginger Davis takes great pride in their flexible class schedules. It was important when she started because they had a new baby. Eventually that was part of the attraction for continuing to grow the company instead of rejoining the grind of the regular corporate workforce. Now it's part of what makes heartland CPR the premier choice; any group of six or larger can schedule a class around the clock any day of the week, and individuals or smaller groups can be integrated into a group of six. They even offer some courses online. The fact that Heartland CPR will also take its classes on the road work, for an increased fee, can conduct short-notice individual classes is the proverbial icing on the cake. AHA Certification cards are immediately distributed at the end of every course.

NURSING SUCCESS

Thanks to the unparalleled balance of skills shared between the Davises and trainers at the top of their respective fields, Heartland CPR has boomed beyond anything expected to become a trusted resource not just statewide, but regionally. There are 13 different types courses currently offered, and its growth isn't slowing down any time soon. This summer, it will introduce NRP certification.

But Ginger Davis is even more excited to promote the newest program, which she hopes will help make Oklahoma City a national training destination: it's STAT Program. Geared toward nurses in general and travel nurses in particular, it will offer the ability to achieve three major certifications in just a single weekend, all without sacrificing any real learning or "printing" certification cards. The weekend course is fully AHA compliant, video-based teaching, verbal instruction, printed material, and hands-on skills practice using mannequins. For the STAT Program, Heartland CPR will provide all training supplies, including textbooks, and will maintain its small class sizes and convenient schedules. Trainees that complete the program will immediately receive two-year AHA certification cards for BLS, ACLS, and PALS.