FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
The Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) is pleased to announce the continuation of its accreditation grant program. As part of an effort to make accreditation more accessible and affordable to qualified agencies, CAAS offers limited grant funding toward the accreditation application fees. CAAS will continue the grant program again this year, and is now accepting applications for consideration. The CAAS grant funding will cover the application fee for accepted agencies, in an effort to reduce the financial impact of initial accreditation.
Agencies will still be responsible for all site review expenses and honoraria. To be eligible for funding under the CAAS Grant Program, an applicant agency must be a licensed ground ambulance provider that can prove a financial need for the grant, and must plan to submit its application within one year of receiving the grant. All agencies awarded grant funding must meet all application requirements for CAAS accreditation.
Through a joint funding venture between CAAS and its association management firm, The Center for Association Growth (TCAG), the grant application process will be open to both new applicants and CAAS accredited agencies, however, preference will be made toward new applicants. Agencies interested in the grant process must submit a completed 2016 CAAS Grant Application to CAAS on or before September 7, 2016. Incomplete applications, illegible applications or applications received after this date will not be considered. Agencies awarded grant funding must submit a completed application package to CAAS within one year of grant approval.
The Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) is a not for profit commission established by the EMS industry to promote and encourage quality in the ambulance industry. CAAS accreditation signifies that an ambulance service provider has met the Gold Standard of Care deemed by the industry to be essential in the delivery of a modern EMS system. CAAS accredited agencies must adhere to strict industry standards that often exceed state and local requirements, and are reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure compliance with the standards. Accreditation increases clinical, operational and safety performance while decreasing risk and liability to the organization.
For more information on CAAS, or to learn how your agency can apply for a CAAS grant, please contact Sarah L. McEntee, CAAS Executive Director at 847-657-6828. You may also find more information on our website, www.caas.org .