[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21986]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




UNITED AMBULANCE SERVICE HONORED AS MAINE'S ONLY CAAS ACCREDITED AGENCY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS H. ALLEN

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 30, 2007

  Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, this year, United Ambulance Service of 
Lewiston/Auburn, Maine received accreditation from the Commission on 
Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS), making it the first and 
only ambulance service in Maine and one of only about 107 ambulance 
services in the country currently to hold this distinction.
  United Ambulance is jointly owned by Central Maine Medical Center and 
St. Mary's Regional Medical Center. Since 1981, it has served the 
citizens of Androscoggin County, Maine, including the towns and cities 
of Auburn, Greene, Lewiston, Minot, Mechanic Falls, New Gloucester, and 
Sabattus.
  The CAAS accreditation reflects compliance with national standards of 
excellence and a continuing commitment to maintaining compliance with 
these standards. The Commission is a non-profit organization 
established to encourage and promote quality patient care in America's 
medical transportation system. Its national standards address the 
delivery of patient care, the service's total operation, and its 
relationships with other agencies, the public and the medical 
community. According to CAAS, accreditation signals that the ambulance 
service ``has met the `gold standard' determined by the ambulance 
industry to be essential in a modern emergency medical services 
provider.'' In addition, the standards for accreditation often surpass 
those set forth by local or State regulation.
  The communities served by United Ambulance have been the beneficiary 
of excellent service since the founding of United Ambulance. The CAAS 
accreditation acknowledges its dedication to the highest standards. In 
addition, as Paul Gosselin, United's Executive Director, noted, ``We 
have achieved accreditation but I believe it can only be a stimulus for 
continued improvement.'' This commitment and United Ambulance's ``gold 
standard'' will serve the people of the region well. I congratulate the 
employees of United Ambulance on their achievement, and, on behalf of 
the people they serve, thank them for their dedication and hard work.

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