Category: Featured

The Virginia Office of EMS has moved!

Posted on by marianhunter

The Virginia Office of EMS has officially moved to its new location downtown. Our office is open and you can visit us at 109 Governor Street, Richmond, VA 23219. We are located on the mezzanine level.

There is no public parking on site, so visitors will need to locate parking nearby. Additionally, entry to the Madison building is secured, so visitors will be required to have identification and an appointment with OEMS staff to enter the building.

We look forward to serving you at our new location. We can also be reached by phone at 804-888-9100 (Main Office) or through email (view our Staff Listing).

Virginia Office of EMS Announces Seven Newly Designated EMS Regions  that will Provide an Efficient and Effective Regional EMS Delivery System

Posted on by marianhunter

As part of the Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) Office of Emergency Medical Services’ (OEMS) ongoing work to enhance Virginia’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) System, we are announcing the recent transition to seven EMS Regions, effective January 1, 2026. This transition is designed to improve the efficiency of EMS operations, reduce administrative costs and improve funding distribution.  

The EMS Region contracts were initiated through a competitive request for applications (RFA) for the development and implementation of an efficient and effective statewide regional EMS delivery system for VDH, per the Code of Virginia §32.1-111.4:2. These contracts went into effect, with a contract period of January 1, 2026 – June 2028.  

The seven OEMS Regions will function as collaborative partners with the VDH OEMS to perform bodies of work on behalf of OEMS and will be identified as “OEMS Region 1-7.”  The Regional Council System is overseen by the OEMS EMS Operations Branch, which is led by Deputy Director Wayne Perry and Regional Coordinators Greg Woods, PhD, and Mary Kathryn Allen. These new service areas were designated in alignment with VDH’s Local Health Districts and Virginia’s Healthcare Coalition. 

  • OEMS Region 1,
    Executive Director Bryan Kimberlin
    Serving the following defined service areas: Counties of: Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Grayson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe and the Cities of Bristol, Galax, and Norton  
  • OEMS Region 2,
    Executive Director Debbie Akers
    Serving the following defined service areas: Counties of : Alleghany, Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Botetourt, Campbell, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Henry, Montgomery, Roanoke, Patrick, Pittsylvania, and Pulaski; and the Cities of : Bedford, Covington, Danville, Lynchburg, Martinsville, Radford, Roanoke, and Salem  
  • OEMS Region 3,
    Executive Director Kristin Nickerson
    Serving the following defined service areas: Counties of: Bath, Highland, Augusta, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Page, Shenandoah, Frederick, Warren, and Clarke; and the Cities of: Buena Vista, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Staunton, Waynesboro, and Winchester  
  • OEMS Region 4,
    Executive Director Kristin Nickerson
    Serving the following defined service areas: Counties of: Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William; and the Cities of: Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park  
  • OEMS Region 5,
    Executive Director Kristin Nickerso    n
    Serving the following defined service areas: Counties of: Albemarle, Caroline, Culpeper, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Greene, King George, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, Orange, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, and Stafford; and the Cities of: Fredericksburg, and Charlottesville  
  • OEMS Region 6,
    Executive Director Heidi Hooker
    Serving the following defined service areas: Counties of: Amelia, Brunswick, Buckingham, Charles City, Charlotte, Chesterfield, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Halifax, Hanover, Henrico, Goochland, Greensville, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, New Kent, Nottoway, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George, Surry, and Sussex; and the Cities of: Colonial Heights, Emporia, Hopewell, Petersburg, and Richmond 
  • OEMS Region 7,
    Executive Director David Long
    Serving the following defined service areas: Counties of: Accomack, Essex, Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, King and Queen, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northampton, Northumberland, Richmond, Southampton, Westmoreland, and York ; and the Cities of: Chesapeake, Franklin, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Poquoson, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Williamsburg  

The transformation to Virginia’s new EMS Regions would not have been possible without the support, coordination and partnership of many EMS stakeholders, including Virginia’s Regional EMS Councils’ Board of Directors, along with VDH and OEMS leadership, who remained committed to transparency and innovative thinking throughout this process. 

As we continue to advance opportunities for all people in Virginia, we will prioritize the promotion of a more efficient, equitable and regionally responsive EMS system. Through these newly designated OEMS Regions, we will enhance accountability and performance standards, helping to improve health outcomes for all communities, with a focus on underserved and rural areas. 

In the coming months, we will share regular updates about the progress of the OEMS Region transition through our website, email, social media and in the EMS community. For more information, visit https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/. 

OEMS Has Gone Fully Digital — No More Printed Certification Cards

Posted on by marianhunter

As of January 1, 2026, the Virginia Office of EMS (OEMS) is no longer printing and mailing certification cards. While digital cards have been available for years, we’re now making them the standard — a move that’s better for the environment and smarter for our resources.

  • Access anytime, anywhere via the OEMS Portal or OEMS mobile app
  • Print your card on demand — or keep it digital for convenience
  • Saving paper, postage, and public dollars — so we can reinvest in what matters most: supporting Virginia’s EMS providers

This change reflects our commitment to sustainability, efficiency and modern service delivery.

Effective 1/1/2026, your certification card is available exclusively online. Visit the OEMS Portal or open the OEMS app to view or print your card.

Let’s move forward — greener, leaner and more connected.

Crash Responder Safety Week, Nov. 17-21, 2025

Posted on by marianhunter

Crash Responder Safety Week proclamation event

As proclaimed by Governor Glenn Youngkin, November 17-21, is Virginia Crash Responder Safety Week. The Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH), Office of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) recognizes the importance of this nationwide initiative to emphasize the critical work of emergency responders and the dangerous conditions they face while responding to roadway incidents.  

During a recognition event hosted on behalf of the Governor’s Office, a state proclamation was presented by the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Marcus Anderson and the Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth Jenna Moon in observance of this special week. This proclamation underscores the critical importance of planned and coordinated efforts to detect, respond to, and clear traffic crashes so that traffic flow may be restored as safely and quickly as possible.

Also in attendance at this proclamation event were the following VDH staff and EMS stakeholders: State Health Commissioner Karen Shelton, MD; VDH Chief Operating Officer Christopher Lindsay; Virginia Office of EMS Director Maria Beermann-Foat, PhD; Deputy Director of EMS Operations Wayne Perry; Emergency Services Coordinator Sam Burnette; PSAP Specialist and EMD Accreditation Coordinator Amber Moore; State EMS Advisory Board Chair Kevin Dillard; Executive Director of Old Dominion EMS Alliance (ODEMSA) Heidi Hooker and ODEMSA Deputy Director Ryan Scarbrough.

Virginia Office of EMS Announces Retirement of Accreditation, Certification and Education Division Director Debbie Akers

Posted on by marianhunter

The Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) announces the upcoming retirement of highly esteemed Accreditation, Certification and Education Division Director Debbie Akers, who will be stepping down from her role as of January 1, 2026.

After 14 years of exceptional service to OEMS and 50 years of dedication to Virginia’s EMS System, her contributions to EMS education have left a lasting and meaningful impact on EMS education across the Commonwealth and throughout the nation.

During her distinguished career, Debbie has been a cornerstone in the EMS community, serving as an educator, mentor and unwavering supporter for the advancement of EMS education and the continued progress of the EMS system. Her passion for teaching, commitment to excellence and genuine care for both colleagues and students has left an indelible mark on the EMS community far and wide.

With our most heartfelt gratitude and appreciation, OEMS thanks Debbie for the many years of service, leadership and dedication to Virginia’s EMS System. Please join us in congratulating Debbie on her well-earned retirement and celebrating the tremendous impact her work has had on Virginia’s EMS providers.