EMS Accrediting Bodies Hold Inaugural Meeting in Baltimore

Representatives of four major EMS accrediting organizations met for the first time to share mutual concerns.

On March 24^th, 2006, representatives of four major EMS accrediting organizations met for the first time to share mutual concerns and seek ways to promote the value of accreditation to municipalities, providers, patients, and society as a whole. Carlynn Page, Associate Director, and Brian Dale, Chair of the Board of Accreditation, National Academies of Emergency Dispatch (NAED) hosted the dinner meeting. The Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) was represented by Josef Penner, board member, Meredith Hellestrae, Executive Director, and Alexandra Pleshkewych, Accreditation Coordinator. Eileen Frazer, Executive Director of the Commission on Accreditation of Air Medical Transports (CAMTS) and Mr. Tom Wieczorek, Executive Director of the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI), represented their respective organizations. Although representatives of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) were unable to attend, both organizations expressed interest in future meetings.

The allied accrediting organizations hope to support the efforts of each participating organization, strengthening the overall awareness of the value of accreditation by critical players in the EMS field and society at large. In the end, this awareness can improve citizen safety and the efficiency of services provided. A strong EMS alliance would support much needed research and outcome studies for the industry and serve as a powerful lobbying coalition. Possible co-accreditation of providers by more than one allied organization could potentially facilitate accreditation for both alliance members and individual participants, making accreditation more cost effective for all.

At this time, plans are underway for another meeting and possible joint accreditation marketing efforts for 2006. Comments, questions, and suggestions can be forwarded to: meredithh@tcag.com (CAAS); Carlynn.page@emergencydispatch.org (NAED); Tom@cfainet.org (CFAI); or efrazer@aol.com (CAMTS).