The Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) awarded Accreditation to Austin-Travis County EMS. The Panel of Commissioners extended the commendation to Austin-Travis County EMS for outstanding achievement in compliance with the national standards for Best Practices for the Emergency Medical Services Industry. Austin-Travis County EMS is one of two CAAS accredited agencies in Central Texas and one of only three dual accredited agencies in the State of Texas for both operational excellence and excellence in Emergency Communications (NAEMD).
CAAS developed the “Gold Standard” for Best Practices within the Emergency Medical Services Industry, standards that often exceed state requirements. Austin-Travis County EMS began the process of accreditation 2 years ago with an extensive self-assessment and evaluation process, making organizational changes that create overall improvement across the full spectrum of the organization. CAAS Accreditation requires an EMS provider agency to evaluate itself against 10 core fundamental requirements and Areas of Focus: Organization, Inter-Agency Relations, Management, Financial Management, Community Relations and Public Affairs, Human Resources, Clinical Standards, Safe Operations and Managing Risk, Equipment and Facilities and Communications Center. Accreditation provides verification to City officials, the medical community and ATCEMS stake-holders that Industry Best Practices are being demonstrated in all aspects of care and service. Of the hundreds of thousands of EMS agencies and providers across the United States, ATCEMS joins an elite group of only 158 who are CAAS Accredited.
