CAAS Newsletter – Summer 2019


Recent CAAS Accreditations

In April, the CAAS Panel of Commissioners granted new accreditation to five agencies:
  • Adair County Ambulance District (Kirksville, MO)
  • American Medical Response of Maricopa (Mesa, AZ)
  • Atlantic Ambulance Corporation (Morristown, NJ)
  • Bryan Fire Department (Bryan, TX)
  • Central EMS (Fayetteville, AR)
In April, the CAAS Panel of Commissioners also granted re-accreditation to five agencies:
  • Emergent Health Partners (Ann Arbor, MI)
  • Jersey City Medical Center (Jersey City, NJ)
  • MONOC (Neptune, NJ)
  • Plano Fire-Rescue (Plano, TX)
  • Riggs Ambulance Service (Merced, CA)
In June, the CAAS Panel of Commissioners granted re-accreditation to eleven agencies:
  • Acadian Ambulance Service (Austin, TX)
  • Armstrong Ambulance Service (Arlington, MA)
  • CHS Mobile Integrated Health Care (Rochester, NY)
  • Derry Fire Department (Derry, NH)
  • Eagle County Paramedic Services (Edwards, CO)
  • Gold Cross EMS (Martinez, GA)
  • Lee County Emergency Medical Services (Fort Myers, FL)
  • MEDIC EMS (Davenport, IA)
  • MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service (Marietta, GA)
  • Oldham County EMS/Baptist EMS (La Grange, KY)
  • Taney County Ambulance District (Hollister, MO)
Congratulations to all our new and re-accrediting agencies for a job well done!

CAAS Announces Release of GVS V2.0

GVS-LOGO-V2-1BD-FINAL-200px.pngThe Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) is pleased to announce the release of Ground Vehicle Standard (GVS) V2.0. GVS V2.0 has been in the development process for approximately two years and is an upgrade from the V1.0 version first released in 2016.
The new ambulance vehicle section of GVS V2.0 contains updates and edits from the prior version, and includes the latest safety, quality and compliance requirements for new production ambulances. It also provides a vehicle certification labeling system for use by the Final Stage Ambulance Manufacturer (FSAM), as well as mandatory documentation templates for compliance and weight/payload information.
In addition, GVS V2.0 contains a completely new comprehensive Remount Standard. The GVS Remount Standard provides minimum requirements for both Remounters and Remounted Ambulances, including specific requirements for vehicle production processes and quality control. The GVS Remount Standard also provides a vehicle labeling system and documentation templates for Remounters to use in order to verify compliance with the standard. This standard is intended for use by FSAMs, independent Remounters and EMS Providers who are remounting their own vehicles internally.
Want to learn more about the development of CAAS GVS V2.0?  Read the July 2019 JEMS article – Remounts Redefined.

Prepare for CAAS Accreditation – In-Person Seminar

July 26, 2019
9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Rosen Shingle Creek, Orlando, Florida
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This full-day seminar, held in conjunction with Pinnacle 2019, is the ideal forum to assist you in planning for your accreditation or re-accreditation using the CAAS Gold Standards. It provides a detailed overview of the application process and clearly defines what can be expected throughout. Faculty will address the benefits and value of accreditation and identify ways in which you can increase operational and clinical performance, reduce risk and liability, and maximize your market potential as a result. The CAAS Standards will be explained in detail as well as the paperless submission process. The interactive format provides an opportunity to share ideas and best practices and receive expert answers to important questions. Course books and materials are included in the registration fee.

What You Will Learn

  •   Plan and budget for accreditation
  •   Recognize and maximize the value of accreditation for your organization
  •   Motivate staff for accreditation
  •   Understand and apply CAAS standards to your organization
  •   Prepare your application
  •   Develop application documentation
  •   Learn how to use the paperless submission process
Who Should Attend
CAAS accreditation is open to all commercial, municipal, fire-based, inter-facility, volunteer, or hospital-based agencies providing ground medical transport. The practical information provided in this course will save countless hours of time, answer questions, and assist managers, QI supervisors, or other designated accreditation coordinators to plan and execute an effective accreditation program within their own agency.
Bonus Offer
Registration to this seminar entitles you to a copy of the CAAS Standards ($30 value), the CAAS Application ($125 value) and access to CAAS’s OnDemand Webinar Series ($250 value).

Promote Your CAAS Accreditation Through the CAAS Website

Every month, the CAAS website receives thousands of visitors.  The website is designed to illustrate the benefits of accreditation to those considering it, and to highlight agencies who have already achieved accreditation.
If you are an accredited agency, please consider sharing photos of your agency in action. We only require two things: every photo must have the CAAS logo visible somewhere in the photo and the agency needs to complete a photo release form.  If you would like to share one of your photos, please visit the site’s Resource Center.
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CAAS Seeks EMS Medical Directors as Site Reviewers

Photo_of_Doctor.jpgCAAS is currently seeking active EMS Medical Directors interested in serving as CAAS site reviewers.  If you know of a physician that might be interested in becoming a site reviewer, please contact the CAAS office at 847-657-6828 for additional information and application details.

Upcoming Events

Here are the EMS events that CAAS plans to attend in 2019.

Pinnacle EMS Leadership Conference
July 23 – 26
Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel
Orlando, FL
CAAS In-Person Accreditation Seminar
July 26
Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel
Orlando, FL
EMS World Expo
October 14 – 18
New Orleans Convention Center
New Orleans, LA
AAA Annual Conference and Trade Show
November 4 – 6
Gaylord Opryland
Nashville, TN