Hear NASEMSO Executive Director Dia Gainor, CoAEMSP Executive Director George Hatch, and NREMT Executive Director Bill Brown bring you up to date on the initiative status and answer your questions.

The staff at CoAEMSP is working diligently to manage the increased number of programs. A year ago the CoAEMSP was managing around 350 programs. Today it is managing 600+ programs while maintaining the same number of staff!

Navigating through the accreditation process can be an apprehensive experience for many; however, we want you to know that staff and the Board are giving each program the attention it deserves.

The chart above illustrates the number of Paramedic Programs that have been accredited or hold a Letter of Review as of February 15, 2013. It does not include the Programs in the system that are On Hold, bringing the total to over 600.

The following programs achieved CAAHEP accreditation at either the November 17, 2012, or January 24, 2013, CAAHEP Board of Directors meeting.

Last month we announced the availability of tracking tools and the advisory committee template. Unfortunately, the files were unable to be downloaded by some people. The good news is that the problem has been resolved. Thank you for your patience.

CECBEMS plans to provide a simplified and abbreviated initial CECBEMS accreditation process for CE providers that already have CAAHEP (CoAEMSP) accreditation for their initial paramedic education program.

CECBEMS made this decision due to the fact that many initial paramedic educational programs also offer continuing education or may wish to do so.

Just like programs evaluate students, CAAHEP evaluates the accreditation process, which reflects upon the CoAEMSP. The results from the accreditation process assessment (APA) are used to improve the accreditation process, educate the program directors, and provide topics for future site visitor training.

Once your program has been awarded CAAHEP accreditation, you will receive a request from CAAHEP to complete this survey to evaluate the accreditation process. Please help us by completing the survey--we DO read them and make changes based on your input! Read some of the suggestions and our responses...

THANK YOU to all of the accredited programs that submitted their 2012 Annual Reports this past December.  You had a 100% submission rate. Job well done!

The CoAEMSP has completed its review of the 2012 Annual Reports and you will find a letter in your email inbox by March 1st.  The focus of the review for the 2012 Annual Report was the National Registry or State "written" examination for Paramedics. The established threshold for this outcome is 70% and a detailed analysis and action plan was required on the annual report for programs falling below this threshold. Read more...

The CoAEMSP Board and staff met February 1-2 in Dallas. Highlights from the meeting include:

Greg has been the Medical Director of Prehospital Services for Susquehanna Health in Williamsport, Pennsylvania since 1998. His duties include Medical Command Facility Director, Medical Director-Prehospital Services, Medical Director-Multiple BLS/First Responder Agencies in Lycoming and Sullivan Counties, Medical Specialist-Rescue Task Force, Tactical Physician, and Williamsport Bureau of Police-Special Response Team. Prior to that, Greg was Medical Director of Ambulatory Care Services for the Susquehanna Health System.

In addition, Greg has been the Regional Medical Director for Lycoming Tioga Sullivan EMS Council since 2004, and Medical Director of Susquehanna Health Prehospital Services in Williamsport, Pennsylvania since 1992. Greg has also served on the Board of Managers for The Williamsport Hospital & Medical Center since 1996. He began his career in EMS as an Emergency Medical Technician in 1976.

Additional affiliations include American Osteopathic Association; Aerospace Medical Association; Society of US Naval Flight Surgeons; and American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians, EMS Committee and Education Committee, among others.

Greg served as a Squadron Flight Surgeon for the US Navy from 1986-1988 and for the US Naval Reserve from 1988-1992. He was recalled to Active Duty for the US Navy in 1990 in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm as a Squadron Flight Surgeon, being deployed to Evenes, Norway.

Awards and honors Greg has received include the Kline A. DeWire Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award, LTS EMS Council; Emergency Physician of the Year, Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council; EMS Physician of the Year, Lycoming/Tioga/Sullian EMS Council; Operational Flight Surgeon of the Year, US Naval Reserve; and  the National Defense Service Medal - Operation Desert Shield/Storm, Order of the "Blue Nose".  In 2001, Greg  was promoted to Captain in the US Naval Reserve, and upon retirement in 2005 from the US Naval Reserve, he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.

Greg represents the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians (ACOEP) on the CoAEMSP Board along with Joe Nelson, DO.