Expanding our mission

Abstract

A draft document for advanced life support (ALS)/basic life support (BLS) ground accreditation standards is being circulated for comments and suggestions. The Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) has had ALS and BLS education and general standards for air transport since its inception. Several accredited programs that offer both air and ground services at all levels of care--BLS, ALS, and critical care--requested that CAMTS be able to accredit their entire service, including the ground ALSBLS transport team. Because air transport services nationwide appear to be adding ground services for all levels of care, the CAMTS board decided to add ground ALS-BLS to its accreditation process. This entity is not separate, however. It applies only to the ALS-BLS ground services that are a part of critical care ground or an air medical transport system. The typical 9-1-1 system would not be eligible to apply for CAMTS accreditation at this time. With completion of the first draft, CAMTS gave the process a trial run during site visits to MEDUCARE at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, S.C., and University Air Care at the University Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. No accreditation actions resulted from the trial study, but draft standards were tested. This draft has been widely circulated for comments and was slated to be presented for recirculation or approval at the July 2000 board of directors meeting. The accreditation standards and process for ALS-BLS ground should be available by fall 2000. Shifting gears somewhat, CAMTS accreditation standards are recognized and sought worldwide. Dan Hankins, MD, current CAMTS chairman, gave a presentation at the June AIRMED 2000 Conference in Stavanger, Norway. CAMTS also exhibited during the conference, which was attended by worldwide air medical professionals. The Association of Air Medical Services and Air Medical Physician Association were among the eight supporting institutions of A I R M E D 2000. Members of the CAMTS board who attended the conference hosted a meeting with medical directors and program directors to establish common areas of compliance with the accreditation standards. European air medical programs have expressed an interest in applying for accreditation, and applicants from Mexico and Canada have asked for accreditation. In fact, Alberta STARS in Calgary (Canada) was the first air medical transport system outside the United States to be accredited. Lq