Ambulance services gain elite accreditations

Ambulance services gain elite accreditations

For the first time, both Gundersen Tri-State Ambulance and Gundersen Health System Ambulance have been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS). This marks the second recognition for Gundersen Tri-State and Gundersen Health System's first.

The two separate services are joined by only two others with the same accreditation in the state of Wisconsin and 150 nationwide. Gundersen Tri-State Ambulance serves La Crosse and surrounding communities and Viroqua, while Gundersen Health System Ambulance provides 911 service to the rural towns of Prairie du Chien and West Union, IA, and critical care ambulance bases in Richland Center and Tomah.

"Accreditation is the gold standard for ambulance operations," said Evan Weis, program manager for EMS Education.

According to CAAS, accreditation is designed to help EMS agencies increase organizational performance and efficiency, increase clinical quality, and decrease risk and liability. It also provides a template for making organizational changes that improve overall performance.

But beyond those advantages, CAAS recognition assures patients that their ambulance service meets the highest standard of care, and it indicates to local officials that they've undergone careful scrutiny by an independent organization.

"They emphasize clear policies, strong education, quality management programs, and making sure that not only do you meet, but exceed the minimum standards for employment in our industry," Weis said.

Applying for accreditation is voluntary and comes with a financial commitment, and it requires meeting all standards on an ongoing basis. But Weis said inclusion on the list of those recognized services is worth the additional work.

"It gives us a frame of reference for what the highest quality of patient care and performance is in the ambulance industry," he said. "It ensures that we're both meeting and exceeding those standards to provide a higher level of service for the community."

Although Gundersen Tri-State was first accredited in 2021 and Gundersen Health System just this past year, Weis said both services have long held themselves to these high standards, having the equipment necessary for high-quality patient care and providing employees with what they need to do their jobs well.

In addition to the ground ambulance services, GundersenAIR, the system's air medivac service, has been accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) since 2003.