Fire Department Earns Prestigious Accreditation

The Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services (HCDFRS) is one of just four fire departments in the nation and the only department in Maryland to earn accreditation for its paramedic education program, according to a statement sent by the department. 

“With this level of accreditation, we are able to customize several components of our paramedic program to better meet long-term goals and strategies,” Fire/EMS Chief William Goddard said in the statement. “As an EMS-based department, our paramedics are among the best and the brightest and to have our program recognized at a national level is outstanding.”

The accreditation, by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), approved the HCDFRS paramedic program on July 19. By the first of the year, all paramedic education programs in the country will be need to be accredited by CAAHEP and all paramedics will be required to graduate from such a program. 

“This is a tremendous accomplishment for not only the county but the region,” County Executive Ken Ulman said in a statement. “It solidifies the diligence and commitment to excellence that our firefighters and paramedics continually exhibit and creates a model for others to follow.”

The HCDFRS offers students first-hand patient care experience alongside class work. According to the statement, last year the 18 members of the Department’s Education and Training division offered more than 130 courses and 80,000 hours of training to Howard County career and volunteer personnel.