The West End Ambulance Association brought home the gold.

The Gold Standard of Excellence Recognition, that is.At a brief ceremony Thursday, John Kloss, the executive director of Eastern Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Services Council, presented the Gold Standard of Excellence Recognition to WEAA."What you have accomplished is truly amazing and we applaud you," Kloss said.William Lillington, EPEMSC's deputy director, Josh Kulp, licensure coordinator and Jason Smith, director of quality improvement, attended the ceremony as did several township supervisors and local business officials.The Eastern Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Services Council's Gold Standard of Excellence was developed to acknowledge those agencies that have demonstrated a commitment to Emergency Medical Services by going above and beyond the standard requirements.Along with licensure, this recognition status will be valid for a three-year period."C.J. Dickinson, WEAA's business manager, and I came on board a year ago with the goal to obtain the Gold Standard. With the help of Melissa Monaco, WEAA administrative coordinator, we initiated a lot of changes and restructured the program," said operations manager Mehmet Barzev.The WEAA formally applied for the Gold Standard with supporting documentation. An on-site inspection was conducted, which focused on clinical practices, operations, best practices, recruitment, safety, education, performance improvement, retention, community outreach, administration, preparedness and recognition.The association is one of five EMS agencies within the region that has the right to display the Gold Standard emblem on their vehicles."West End Community Ambulance Association is proud to receive this recognition. We have made a great investment in our service, and we are committed to providing the best possible care to our patients," Barzev said.Dickinson said he is ecstatic to receive the Gold Standard."We faced many challenges in bringing the agency to the forefront of emergency services within the county and region," Dickinson said.In October, the association was also recognized by the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council for receiving the Pennsylvania EMS Children Voluntary Recognition Program which includes ChildLine background clearance for all team members; four hours of pediatric-specific continuing education (annually) by all team members; and by participation in community outreach initiatives which demonstrate benefits to children for safety and injury prevention.The association has been serving the West End community since 1955. It has 60 staff people which include career, volunteers and auxiliary members. There are two locations, Effort and Saylorsburg, and six vehicles with two ambulances on duty 24/7. They answer about 3,200 calls a year, serving Tunkhannock, Chestnuthill, Polk, Hamilton, Ross and Eldred townships. The association is the designated primary response agency for Chestnuthill, Polk and Eldred.