Rural/Metro announces 'Traumatic Brain Injury' agency certification | Health

New certification for the Rural/Metro Corporation, all companies – Southwest Ambulance, PMT Ambulance, Rural/Metro Fire Department and Rural/Metro Ambulance received this new Excellence in Prehospital Injury Care (EPIC)-Traumatic Brain Injury Certification.  This certification is given by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

The Company's entire emergency medical services (EMS) work force in Arizona is trained to the highest prehospital treatment protocols for victims of traumatic brain injuries in accordance with ADHS' EPIC program. 

Rural/Metro is the only private ambulance provider in Arizona trained to the highest state standards in multiple counties (Maricopa, Pinal, Pima and Yuma). Southwest Ambulance, PMT Ambulance, Rural/Metro Fire Department and Rural/Metro Ambulance provide emergency medical services to 84% of the state's population in Maricopa, Pima, Pinal and Yuma counties.

"As a national leader in EMS, our commitment to clinical excellence in every aspect of our business drives us each day to perform to the highest standards in every community we serve,” said Michael P. DiMino, President & Chief Executive Officer. “These standards are proven to contribute to positive patient outcomes and provide our receiving hospitals with every prehospital advantage possible when we bring patients into their emergency departments."

Each year, more than 1.7 million people are victims of traumatic brain injuries in the United States. The signs and symptoms of a traumatic brain injury may not be readily apparent to bystanders. The quick actions of prehospital EMS rescuers who are specially trained to recognize and treat TBI patients before they arrive at the hospital can dramatically improve patient outcomes and survival rates.

"We are extremely proud to provide EPIC-TBI care in every community we serve throughout Arizona and congratulate each of our paramedics, EMTs, firefighters, nurses and other medical professionals who make a difference every day in patient outcomes," Mr. DiMino said.

In further support of Rural/Metro's commitment to clinical excellence, the Company announced it has established a non-profit organization named the Rural/Metro Clinical Excellence Project (RMCEP), with a mission to inform and educate the public and the EMS community nationwide about the importance of prehospital public health initiatives such as the State of Arizona's EPIC program.

"We are committed to becoming a valued resource and supporter of programs and our partners throughout the nation as we work together to improve patient outcomes," Mr. DiMino concluded.