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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 2, 2025
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Leon County EMS Reaccredited for Exceeding National Standards of Service
For the sixth consecutive time, the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) conferred a three-year accreditation to Leon County Emergency Medical Services (LCEMS) for exceeding strict national standards of excellence. The reaccreditation demonstrates Leon County’s unwavering commitment to exceptional patient care and community well-being through rigorous training and public education.
“We couldn’t be prouder of our EMS team’s continued leadership on the national stage,” said Leon County Commission Chairman Brian Welch. “Earning our sixth consecutive accreditation proves that we consistently provide the highest level of emergency medical care to the residents of our great community.”
To receive reaccreditation, the CAAS review process includes a comprehensive application and an onsite review by national experts in emergency medical services. Through the review, experts confirmed that LCEMS adheres to the highest standards of patient care, organizational performance, and customer satisfaction.
“This CAAS accreditation highlights the exceptional commitment and expertise of our LCEMS paramedics, EMTs and staff, who routinely surpass rigorous national standards,” said Leon County Administrator Vincent S. Long. “Residents can rely on LCEMS to deliver top-quality care when they need it most.”
In 2010, LCEMS became Florida's first government-operated EMS provider to meet the rigorous CAAS standards and receive accreditation. The County's ongoing commitment to these standards and other professional benchmarks has resulted in a cardiac arrest survival rate of 36%, nearly twice the national average. Additionally, LCEMS continues to offer groundbreaking initiatives, including the Whole Blood Program that enables trained medics to rapidly transfuse blood to critically injured patients who have experienced life-threatening blood loss or are suffering from severe bleeding due to other medical conditions. Since launching the program in early 2024, LCEMS has administered 41 units of blood to patients in need.
“As national leaders in response and survival, our LCEMS professionals set the bar for emergency medical services everywhere,” said Leon County EMS Chief Chad Abrams. “Our successful reaccreditation reflects the team’s steadfast dedication to delivering high-quality, patient-focused care for the citizens of Leon County in their greatest times of need.”
Established in 1990, CAAS is an independent accrediting agency that exists to encourage and promote the highest standards for medical transportation systems across the country. There are more than 170 CAAS-accredited agencies nationwide, underscoring the universal value of CAAS standards in ensuring operational efficiency, clinical quality, and patient safety across the entire EMS industry.
Launched on December 31, 2003, Leon County EMS has proudly provided clinically superior, cost-effective emergency medical services and transport to the citizens and visitors of Leon County for more than 20 years. With a team of highly trained professionals and state-of-the-art equipment, LCEMS continues to deliver prompt and compassionate care to those in need. Since its founding, LCEMS has responded to more than 815,000 calls for service and transported more than 529,800 patients.
For more information, contact Chad Abrams, Chief of Emergency Medical Services, at (850) 606-2100 / AbramsC@LeonCountyFL.gov or Mathieu Cavell, Leon County Community and Media Relations, at (850) 606-5300 / CMR@LeonCountyFL.gov.
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