April 2, 2015
Toronto Paramedic Services Chief Paul Raftis today accepted a recognition plaque from Jerry Overton, Chair of the Board of Accreditation of the Academies of Emergency Dispatch.
The plaque marks the third time since 2008 that Toronto Paramedic Services has earned the prestigious re-accreditation designating Toronto Paramedic Services' Emergency Medical Dispatch Centre as a Centre of Excellence. The "ACE" designation (Accredited Centre of Excellence) is the highest distinction in 911 emergency communication services.
"This is a significant achievement and a credit to the professionalism of the entire Toronto Paramedic Services team," said Councillor James Pasternak (Ward 10 York Centre), Chair of the Community Development and Recreation Committee.
Chief Paul Raftis said, "It is an honour to accept this designation on behalf of the men and women who earned this international recognition through their hard work and dedication to the health and safety of the residents of, and visitors to, Toronto."
"Toronto Paramedic Services achieved its re-accreditation for its continued compliance with international practice standards of excellence for Emergency Medical Dispatch," said Overton. "The quality of work this centre provides to its callers is outstanding."
The conferring association is a non-profit standard-setting organization promoting safe and effective emergency dispatch services worldwide and is based in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is composed of four allied academies for medical, fire, police and emergency nurse system dispatching. The organization supports first-responder research leading to unified protocol application and legislation that strengthens the emergency dispatch community through education, certification and accreditation.
Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit
http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.
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Media contact: Kim McKinnon, Toronto Paramedic Services, 416-392-2255, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
