Submitted by Stew Schmidt
This month, Maskwacis Ambulance Authority (MAA) has been recognized with the Accreditation Canada’s Primer Emergency Medical Services award. “This award affirms that our service is strong, engaged and of a quality analogous to National Standards within EMS,” says Stew Schmidt, Paramedic and General Manager of Maskwacis Ambulance Authority.
Accreditation is one of the most effective ways for health services organizations to regularly and consistently examine and improve the quality of their services. MAA is participating in Accreditation Canada’s accreditation programs to evaluating their performance against national standards of excellence. These standards examine all aspects of health care, from patient safety and ethics, to staff training and partnering with the community.
During the three day on-site evaluation and survey, the Maskwacis Emergency Medical Services were assessed on several important service factors including:
●Planning and service design
● Emergency preparedness
● Human capital
● Integrated quality management
● Principle-based care and decision making
● Communication
● Physical environment
● Medication management
● Patient and provider safety
● Episode of care
The Survey team from Accreditation Canada visited our station, met with staff, and attended ride alongs with our EMS Crews during actual EMS calls. They evaluated policy, standard operating guidelines, procedures, and programs. They also spoke with community partners (in health, communication, internal, external focus groups), Leaders of Alberta Health Services (AHS), Senior Management team and our Medical Director.
This primer award is Accreditation Canada’s first level of accreditation and over the next three years Maskwacis Ambulance Authority will work to achieve the next level called Qumentum.
Qumentum Standards will evaluate, support, and review our services against national EMS standards and best practices. We will continue striving to be the very best Emergency Medical Service and I am very proud of the entire MAA team for their excellent work, which has been recognized with this Accreditation Canada award.
