Cetronia Ambulance Corps Recieves 'Gold Standard of Excellence' Recognition from the Eastern PA EMS Council

On Monday, June 18, representatives from the Eastern Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Services Council formally
recognized Cetronia Ambulance Corps as the first EMS agency in the region to achieve the Council’s “Gold
Standard of Excellence.” 

The Eastern PA EMS Council launched this program in February to acknowledge those agencies that routinely go “above and beyond” the call of duty and licensure requirements through the PA Department of Health.  “We
applaud the effort of Cetronia Ambulance as well as the other EMS agencies who have applied for the “Gold Standard of Excellence” recognition because it
clearly demonstrates their commitment to exemplary performance, customer service and dedication to the residents and visitors of the communities they
serve, as well as the Region, Commonwealth and Nation,” said Everitt Binns, Ph.D., Executive Director/CEO of the Eastern PA EMS Council. 

The program is completely voluntary and was developed by volunteer committees within the Regional Council structure. The recognition is valid for a 3-year period and consists of a formal application, supporting documentation and an on-site inspection which focuses primarily in the areas of clinical practices, community outreach, operations, safety, education, performance improvement, administration and emergency preparedness.  In addition to Cetronia, four other EMS agencies have also submitted their application for the “Gold Standard of Excellence” recognition and are going through the inspection process.  “Cetronia has and continues to be very involved in all Regional Council activities by providing support staff to serve on numerous committees as well as providing vital resources, including field staff and equipment, to its special teams/disaster response such as the Tactical EMS and Region 2 Strike Team.  As industry leaders in this
region, we are honored to be the first to receive this recognition,” said Larry Wiersch, CEO of Cetronia Ambulance Corps. 

In addition to the new Regional Council recognition,
Cetronia Ambulance has been nationally accredited by the ambulance service industry since 2008 and remains the only provider in Eastern Pennsylvania to achieve the Gold Standard of Organization Excellence from the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS), which also signifies that the organization exceeds standards set by state and local regulation and recognizes Cetronia’s core values, its processes, community service and patient care. “At Cetronia, we believe that it is not only our purpose, but our responsibility, to provide exceptional emergency and non-emergency medical services, community outreach, education and excellence in customer services.  With this
recognition and our national CAAS accreditation, we can further demonstrate our passion for saving more lives,” added Wiersch. 

Cetronia Ambulance Corps, founded in 1955, is a non-profit, 501(c)3 community based emergency medical services provider prominently located in the Lehigh Valley. Cetronia Ambulance Corps is one of the largest providers of ambulance services in Eastern Pennsylvania; employing 125 full and part time career associates, 20 active volunteers and boasting a total fleet of 32 vehicles, including 18 ambulances, 11 para-transit vehicles, a supervisor’s vehicle, medi-car and a special operations unit. Cetronia provides basic and advanced life support ambulance, para-transit, wheelchair, and stretcher van services to serve the communities emergency medical services and medical transportation needs. Cetronia Ambulance Corps is recognized by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) for its superior care, rapid response and performance excellence and is the only nationally accredited EMS agency in Eastern Pennsylvania, one of only seven in the state and one of only 144 in the nation. As the regional leader in High Performance EMS, Cetronia Ambulance Corps receives over 44,000 calls for service annually, covering an emergency service area that spans across 108 square miles and a non-emergency coverage area that encompasses seven counties. Cetronia Ambulance Corps provides Health on Wheels™ and is dedicated to saving lives and partnering with community every day.