The National Collegiate EMS Foundation (NCEMSF) bestowed Rice University Emergency Medical Services (REMS) with its Modeling Excellence in Response, Innovation and Training (MERIT) recognition, a distinction for collegiate EMS organizations denoting exceptional performance in campus-based practices.
“Receiving the MERIT award highlights the unseen infrastructure required to sustain a collegiate EMS agency at the level we pursue,” said junior Dylan Balise, a REMS InCharge and operations lieutenant. “It reflects not only the care we provide on campus but also the systems that enable it, from extensive equipment and training to continual quality improvement and community engagement.”
Between 1999 to 2025, REMS held Striving for Excellence recognition from NCEMSF based on its delivery of care, training and service to the community. The Striving for Excellence program was retired after 2025 and replaced with the MERIT recognition program, which contains new requirements that better reflect the current state of high-achieving EMS organizations.
The MERIT program spotlights collegiate EMS organizations that adhere to the highest standards of operational excellence, clinical care, training, safety and community engagement. The program provides a structured framework for self-assessment, continuous improvement and acknowledgement of exceptional performance.
In combination with six schools recognized last year, REMS stands as 1 of 12 programs across the United States and Canada to hold this honor.
To learn more about REMS, visit rems.rice.edu.