The Importance of Accreditation

In the world of emergency services, precision, speed, and expertise are paramount. Knowing that, the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch^® (IAED^™) recognized the need 35 years ago to establish a seal of excellence known as The Accredited Center of Excellence (ACE). This prestigious accreditation is not just a mark of distinction but a solid, reproducible testament to any and all centers’ commitment to operational excellence and underlying but often invisible community service.

The foundation of ACE lies in its rigorous standards: the 20 Points of Accreditation. Communication centers that demonstrate meeting all 20 Points are awarded this status, showing a relentless, high-level commitment to best practices, while ensuring that all their received and processed emergency calls are handled with the highest level of care, competency, and efficiency.¹ This credential mandates the implementation of underlying comprehensive quality assurance processes and reproducible, continuous improvement strategies that have been proven to uplift the quality of emergency response services.²

More than 30 years ago, Albuquerque Fire Department in New Mexico (USA) became the world’s first Accredited Center of Excellence in 1993. Today, there are a total of 331 Accredited Centers of Excellence honored throughout the world. Their achievements underscore their unwavering dedication to consistent community safety and reliable emergency preparedness.

But what exactly makes accreditation so meaningful and impactful?

First, ACEs benefit from strict compliance with standardized protocols, which leads to quality and consistency in emergency response.³ This strict compliance to protocol is crucial because it minimizes the risk of human error and produces consistent, reliable assistance for callers regardless of the nature or location of the emergency. In essence, this meets the now well-established Standard of Care and Practice in public safety dispatching.

Moreover, accreditation fosters a culture of continuous improvement. Accredited centers are required to maintain ongoing training and evaluation for their Emergency Dispatchers, ensuring that their skills remain consistent, sharp, and up to date. This focus on perpetual professional development boosts Emergency Dispatcher confidence and effectiveness, ultimately leading to better outcomes in emergency situations and significantly longer tenure in their jobs (i.e., much less turnover in a very turnover-heavy profession).⁴

Community trust is another significant advantage of accreditation. When a community knows that its emergency evaluation and response team holds itself to the highest proven, international standards, it inspires confidence. Residents can take comfort in the knowledge that their calls for help will be answered, start to finish, by a team equipped with the best training and protocols available—all while remaining committed to performance excellence.

Accreditation awarded by the IAED is more than just a title: It's a commitment to the highest level of service. Through standardized protocols and continuous specific, focused training, thereby fostering specific caller and general public trust, accredited centers exemplify what it means to serve with distinction. In an age where every second might count for specific emergencies, the importance of ACE continues to grow, guiding the evolution of emergency dispatch standards—worldwide.

ACE absolutely ensures dispatch accountability to the highest performance standards currently possible, as far as we currently believe exist on Earth. And in a world where as unpredictable as emergencies are, you may be the next one testing this promise— hoping that personally and predictably this time, it holds true, as proven, once more!

References 
1. Clawson J. Medical Dispatch Review: ‘Run’ Review for the EMD. Journal of Emergency Medical Services. 1986; 11. 
2. Clawson J. Quality Assurance: A Priority for Medical Dispatch. Emergency Medical Services. 1989; 18:53–58. 
3. Clawson J, Cady G, Martin R, Sinclair R. The Impact of a Comprehensive Quality Management Process on Compliance to Protocol in an Emergency Medical Dispatch Center. Annals of Emergency Medicine. 1998; 32:578–584. 
4. Clawson J, Martin RL, Lloyd B, Smith M, Cady G. The EMD as a Medical Professional. Journal of Emergency Medical Services. 1996; 21:69–72.