CRESCENT CITY — A local air ambulance company recently received the highest level of accreditation in the industry.

Cal-Ore Life Flight, which keeps its airplanes at the Crescent City and Brookings airports, was granted a three-year accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS).

All air ambulance companies must meet Federal Aviation Administration, state and federal requirements to fly patients for medical care. The commission's standards are higher than the government's, said Dan Brattain, Cal-Ore president.

This top-most accreditation is optional in California and Oregon, but attaining it ensures a company has met the highest standards in the industry, Brattain said.

"You have to review [CAMTS] standards and not only write new policies, but you have to demonstrate you also live by the guidelines," he said.

Some states now require air ambulance companies to receive this accreditation, he said.

Cal-Ore's five planes pick up patients from small clinics in Humboldt, Del Norte and Curry counties and fly them to facilities with higher-level care.

Of the nearly 500 air ambulance companies in the country, only about 140 have received this top-most accreditation.

"It's not common because it's difficult to achieve," said Darryn Ballance, who does community relations for Cal-Ore.

Cal-Ore applied for the accreditation almost two years ago. The company's staff of 70 worked to meet standards, and after inspection, the commission's board of directors approved Cal-Ore's full accreditation.

To reach the highest standards, Cal-Ore registered nurses went through more training, and satellite phones were installed in all of the planes, Brattain said. Departmental leaders must meet quarterly to improve management and internal coordination, he added.

Reach Michelle Ma at mma@triplicate.com.