Sarah McEntee Named New CAAS Executive Director

New Executive Director has long history of service to CAAS

Sarah McEntee

Sarah McEntee has been named the new executive director for the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS).  In an announcement from CAAS’s headquarters in Glenview, Ill., Brett Wangman, president of The Center for Association Growth (TCAG), pointed to Ms. McEntee’s extensive background in fields related to CAAS’s mission.

The new CAAS executive director has provided project management and consultation services to EMS agencies throughout the United States.  Those services have included compliance and risk management.  In addition Ms. McEntee has developed policies and procedures relative to billing, human resources, administration and operations for EMS agencies.

For the past seven years, Ms. McEntee has been a CAAS site reviewer and team leader for on-site reviews of candidate agencies for accreditation.  She also has been one of the lead instructors at the CAAS Accreditation Seminars, which are conducted throughout the year to assist agencies that are planning for accreditation or re-accreditation using the CAAS Gold Standards. Her work in revising the seminar content and structure has brought direct benefit to the attendees.

Ms. McEntee routinely speaks at state and national trade association and professional societies and EMS symposia.  She also developed and has been responsible for the ongoing management of the CAAS accreditation helpline to provide guidance to candidate agencies.

As the CAAS executive director, Ms. McEntee will act as the spokesperson for CAAS with allied organizations, government agencies, and the media.  She will represent the interests of the accredited agencies and oversee membership services.  Additionally, she will lead the marketing of the organization to prospective agencies through various channels such as expanded coverage of our accreditation seminars, including a new online training on the accreditation process.  She also will handle our advertising, trade shows with the CAAS booth, Web site, speakers, published articles, and other activities.

Mr. Wangman, whose company has managed CAAS’s business affairs for the past 11 years, said, “We are delighted that after the retirement of Meredith Hellestrae who served CAAS with such distinction, we have found an able and uniquely qualified new leader.  I am sure that Sarah will build on the foundation that TCAG and Meredith have created with CAAS”.

Ms.  McEntee is a graduate of Daniel Webster College in Nashua, New Hampshire, with a bachelor’s degree in organizational management. Her related courses included human resource management, strategic management, and inter-personal communication.  She also focused on group interaction and executive leadership.  She has been an active medic since 1989.

A Brief History of CAAS

In March 1982, the American Ambulance Association (AAA) sponsored a needs assessment workshop in Kansas City, Missouri, to analyze the status of the EMS industry. The participants compiled a list of the twenty most pressing issues facing emergency medical services, the first of which was the need for high quality industry standards. In May 1984, the AAA Board of Directors authorized the formation of its Ad Hoc Committee on Accreditation and Standards. The standards that grew out of this committee's work were consensus-based--with input from professionals across the EMS industry. The development of the process by which an agency could become certified to these standards followed.

In 1990, an independent Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) was incorporated, bringing together a board of representatives from the American Ambulance Association, the Emergency Nurses Association, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, the National Association of EMS Physicians, and the National Association of State EMS Directors. In 1993, the first agencies were accredited by the Commission.

Today there are 106 accredited agencies in 34 states and two provinces.  Agencies must re-accredit every three years.  The re-accreditation rate is over 95%.


About The Center for Association Growth (TCAG)

The Center for Association Growth has a staff of 20 professionals and is headquartered in Glenview, Ill.  TCAG currently serves seven national, international and regional organizations on a full-service and project basis.  TCAG provides personalized client service through a commitment to quality and the achievement of client goals.  TCAG’s range of association management services includes: accreditation programs, advertising, sponsorship, event management, government relations, marketing, membership development and administration, information technology services, strategic planning and many other professional association management services.  More information can be found at www.tcag.com