ROCK HILL, S.C. — Piedmont Medical Center EMS has achieved a significant milestone in emergency healthcare, receiving official accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS). This distinction makes it only the fourth ambulance service in the state of South Carolina to earn this national recognition.
The accreditation follows a rigorous, voluntary review process designed to evaluate compliance with national standards of excellence. Piedmont EMS joins an elite group of over 180 ambulance services across the United States that have successfully completed the comprehensive evaluation, which included an in-depth application and an on-site review by national EMS experts.
Setting a “Gold Standard” for Care
The Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services is a non-profit organization established to encourage and promote quality patient care in America’s medical transportation system. Its standards often exceed state and local licensing requirements, focusing on:
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High-quality delivery of patient care.
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Total operational efficiency.
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Strong relationships with other agencies, the medical community, and the public.
Teresa Urquhart, Market CEO of Piedmont Medical Center, emphasized the organization’s long-standing commitment to the region.
“This accreditation represents Piedmont Medical Center’s dedication to providing compassionate, quality care to the communities we serve,” said Urquhart. “Piedmont EMS has been providing Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Emergency Medical Services to York County for more than 40 years. We continuously strive to do our best and we view this accreditation as another step toward excellence.”
A Team Achievement
Achieving CAAS accreditation is a lengthy process that requires the involvement of the entire staff. Chris Mauney, Director of Piedmont EMS, credited the team’s dedication for the successful outcome.
“Our staff has been key to our successful completion of the process. This achievement gives our EMS team the feeling of prestige and pride to work in an accredited ambulance service,” said Mauney. “Everyone here played a valuable role in our ability to meet the Commission’s high standards. We have achieved accreditation, and I know it will only be a stimulus for continued improvement.”
About Piedmont Medical Center
Piedmont Medical Center Rock Hill (PMC) is a 282-bed full-service, Level III trauma hospital that serves York County and surrounding areas. It features a Level III NICU and a comprehensive heart and vascular center.
To better serve the growing community, the network recently opened Piedmont Medical Center Fort Mill, a 100-bed community hospital offering robotic surgical services, orthopedics, and OB services. Emergency services are currently offered at three locations: Rock Hill, Fort Mill, and Gold Hill.
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