Accreditation Process

In March 1998, as part of our commitment to maintaining outstanding operations, the Loveland-Symmes Fire Department earned Emergency Medical Services (EMS) accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS).

Gold Standard of Service

Accreditation through CAAS signifies that an EMS provider offers the “gold standard” of service as has been determined by the ambulance industry to be essential for the provision of quality service by a modern EMS provider. These standards exceed state and local regulations.

Updated Procedures & Personnel Training

Earning accreditation through CAAS is no easy task. The first step to accreditation included a comprehensive self-assessment to compare the LSFD with national standards and to determine whether the department was ready to begin the accreditation process. In order to meet the high standards established by CAAS for quality assurance, LSFD made significant improvements in departmental operations. Existing EMS policies and procedures were updated and personnel training problems were adjusted to place more emphasis on safety.

“The good news for LSFD customers is that by voluntarily seeking accreditation, we were able to take our paramedic service to a whole new level of excellence,” explained then-Fire Chief James Hunter. The LSFD is the first private fire and EMS department in the United States to achieve this accreditation and remains the only EMS provider in the State of Ohio to be accredited by CAAS.

Re-Accreditation Every Four Years

To insure that accredited agencies continue to provide a high level of service, CAAS requires the LSFD to renew its accreditation every four years. After an extensive review and site visit, CAAS re-accredited the LSFD in 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016. The department is currently in the process of being reviewed again to maintain this prestigious accreditation.