Usually, when we think of education and accreditation, the stakes aren’t life and death.

But when it comes to paramedics, proper knowledge and training can mean the difference between a close call and a tragedy.

In this episode, we speak with Dr. George Hatch, Executive Director of the Committee on Accreditation for the EMS professions (CoAEMSP), about the fascinating story behind — and what the future holds for — the accreditation that’s helping save lives everyday.

Join us as we discuss:

• A unique accreditor structure
• Transitioning from practitioner to accreditor
• Improving relationships as an accreditor
• The ROI from involving stakeholders

See Dr. Hatch’s full bio below!

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Dr. Hatch, a 45 year EMS veteran provider and professional educator, is the Executive Director of the largest Committee on Accreditation in the Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) system with nearly 800 Paramedic programs in the nation and internationally. Providing oversight to the largest Board of Directors that represent the EMS profession (12 Sponsors), he was called upon to help manage the crisis of keeping the “educational pipeline” open and functioning throughout the COVID-19 crisis while supporting the accredited EMS education programs in the United States.

Serving in one of the largest community colleges in the country and responsible for educating the 3rd largest fire department in his role as Department Chairman and Program Director for over 2 decades, he’s learned a few lessons about what works in education. He holds an Educational Doctorate with a concentration in Curriculum-Instruction and Teaching from the University of Houston and is the recipient of the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Houston College Of Education.