Oldham County EMS earns prestigious CAAS accreditation
LA GRANGE, Ky. (November 7, 2025) — Oldham County Emergency Medical Services (OCEMS) celebrated a milestone Thursday morning, as the agency was formally recognized for earning the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) reaccreditation. The event, attended by local officials and staff, underscored OCEMS’s ongoing dedication to providing high-quality emergency care to the people who live, work, and travel through Oldham County.
CAAS accreditation is widely regarded as the gold standard in the ambulance industry, given only to agencies that meet rigorous national criteria for patient care, safety, and operational effectiveness. OCEMS is part of an elite group — only two EMS services in Kentucky and 186 nationwide currently hold the distinction out of 29,000 agencies across the country.
OCEMS underwent a multi-year process involving 4,000 pages of documentation and an in-depth on-site evaluation by EMS experts. The standards for CAAS accreditation exceed those required at the state and local levels, promoting excellence in clinical care, operational practices, and community partnerships.
During the event, Col. Deborah Berry, director of Oldham County EMS, emphasized that OCEMS’s role extends beyond responding to 911 calls, noting the agency’s presence at community events and education initiatives, such as ambulance tours for elementary school students and CPR training for high schoolers in partnership with Baptist Health La Grange and Oldham County Schools.
Berry said the CAAS accreditation is especially meaningful to her as an Oldham County native.
“Taking care of folks in Oldham County is personal,” she said. “When my mother called 911, I didn’t know what crew was on, but I trusted them all with my parents’ lives. The crew that responded that day wasn’t excellent because they were helping my family — they were excellent because that’s the level of skill, compassion, and professionalism our paramedics and EMTs bring to every patient, every day.”
The event also highlighted the importance of the Oldham County Ambulance Taxing District Board of Directors, which oversees funding and ensures the agency is equipped with modern stations and ambulances featuring the latest life-saving tools. Berry described the ambulances as “mini emergency rooms” or “an ICU on wheels,” with well-trained crews and top-tier equipment made possible by board support.
Thomas J. Clark, DMD, FACD, FICD, chairman of the Taxing District Board, said he hopes the citizens of Oldham County take pride in the quality of the service.
“The CAAS accreditation is a big deal. It’s a really big deal. It’s one thing to earn the accreditation, it’s another to maintain it,” said Dr. Clark.
OCEMS’s partnership with Baptist Health, which has managed the service since 2012, was credited as a key factor in its success. Under Baptist Health’s leadership, OCEMS has earned the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services’ Pediatric Emergency Care Award for seven consecutive years, received national recognition from the American Heart Association’s Mission Lifeline Gold Award, and became the country’s first service with all staff certified in advanced life support (ALS).
Clint Kaho, Baptist Health La Grange President, noted how OCEMS’s efforts are consistent with the hospital’s main objective.
“At Baptist Health La Grange, our hospital’s mission is to deliver outstanding care close to home — to be the trusted source of healing and hope for our neighbors, families, and friends. The work Oldham County EMS does every day aligns with that goal,” Kaho said. “Whether responding to an accident, a medical emergency, or supporting community events, their commitment ensures that critical care begins right where it’s needed most: in our community, at our front doors, before our patients even arrive at the hospital.”
Judge Executive David Voegele and other members of the Oldham County Fiscal Court joined the event to congratulate OCEMS and issue a proclamation in the service’s honor. He also thanked the EMS staff in attendance.
“As Debbie said, when you arrive at our home, or at our business, and take our lives in your hands, we’re thankful and we’re appreciative,” said Judge Voegele. “This community needs you.”
OCEMS has been CAAS accredited since 2016. This is the service’s third consecutive reaccreditation.