Florida ambulance service one of three programs in the world to hold CAMTS, CAAS, and ACE

LARGO, Fla. (October 5, 2012) — Sunstar Paramedics, the emergency medical services (EMS) transport provider for Pinellas County, remains one of two EMS providers in the U.S. to be accredited by the following three respected industry organizations (Sunstar renewed accreditations with all three organizations this year):

• The Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS),
• The Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS), and
• The Accredited Center of Excellence (ACE) by the National/International Academies of Emergency Dispatch.

The only other two programs in the world to hold all three accreditations are Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority (REMSA) in Reno, Nevada, and Emergency Medical Care Inc. in Nova Scotia.

The CAMTS, CAAS, and ACE programs ensure quality care and transportation service safety. To become accredited EMS programs are evaluated on a range of criteria, from general operations (such as safety procedures and equipment management), to staff wellness policies and public education programs (such as free CPR classes and Child Passenger Safety assistance).

“These accreditations are important to us – we’re pleased to hold them and to take part in the processes,” said Mark Postma, COO with Sunstar Paramedics. “Along with frequent awards and a 96 percent customer satisfaction rate, our people take great pride in our work, and we appreciate being told we’re doing a good job.”

The accreditation processes take at least four months, and each accreditation lasts three years. In Florida, there are 17 organizations accredited by ACE, nine with CAAS, and five with CAMTS.

About Sunstar Paramedics:

Sunstar is the 911 ambulance transport service for all Pinellas County residents, employing 500-plus local residents, and responding to around 500 calls a day. Highly awarded and accredited, Sunstar utilizes state-of-the-art equipment and software, and (along with parent company Paramedics Plus) is an innovator of the industry’s best practices. Sunstar’s people are heavily involved in Pinellas communities, focusing largely on public safety programs for the public and for schools.

Sunstar is also a recipient of the Florida Governor’s Sterling Award, the state’s most prestigious award recognizing “role models for organizational performance excellence.”