Trinity EMS Earns State’s First Medical Dispatch Accreditation

Gary Sepe, vice president; Jon Kelly, director of communications and IT; Chris Archambault assistant director of communications; and John Chemaly, president of Trinity EMS. (Courtesy photograph.)

Trinity EMS, which provides ambulance service in Haverhill and a dozen other communities, was approved as an Emergency Medical Dispatch Center of Excellence last week by the Board of Accreditation of the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch.

The designation means Trinity EMS is the only accredited center in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the 231st Emergency Medical Dispatch Accredited Center in the world.  Currently there are approximately 3,200 centers in the world that utilize the Medical Priority Dispatch system and 144 accredited centers in the United States.

“We are truly excited to receive such a prestigious accreditation. This not only elevates our dispatch center, it reinforces our common goal with IAED of improving public safety and maximizing the efficiency of the 911 system,” said Trinity owner John Chemaly.

Trinity began working on accreditation during November, 2015, led by Trinity Assistant Communications Manager Chris Archambault. During those months, the Trinity dispatch and EMD-Q teams worked to reach required standards. “The dedication of the entire dispatch team and faith of management is the primary reason for the success in receiving this accreditation,” Archambault said.

The international accreditation is a formal process that validates that all Trinity EMS dispatch staff is trained, certified and performing at a very high, on-going standard. Trinity achieved accreditation for demonstrating compliance to the Medical Priority Dispatch System and the associated “20 Points of Excellence.” The “20 Points of Excellence” encompass international practice standards of excellence for Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD). This level of operational effectiveness addresses system oversight, quality improvement programs and individual certification of all emergency call-takers. The accreditation is a voluntary accomplishment that demonstrates an unprecedented dedication to public safety from not only each individual within the communications center, but also the administration, Trinity officials said.