News: KBEMS delays selecting medical advisor

March 1, 2001

S T A T E N E W S B R I E F

News Index | The Kentucky EMS Connection Main Index

KBEMS delays selecting medical advisor

By JOHN HULTGREN
Kentucky EMS Connection

FRANKFORT — Because of a funding problem, the new medical advisor for the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services won't be selected until May.

"Funding has not been set up for that," explained Judge Anthony Stratton to the board at their meeting this afternoon in Frankfort.

Stratton, who is chairman of the board's search committee, announced that five applications for the position were received and that interviews have been conducted. One physician has been selected by the committee for recommendation to the full board.

In an unexpected development, board chairman Mark Bailey announced that Dr. Irvin Smith has resigned his position on the board. Dr. Smith, the physician medical director representative, was an original appointee to the board last September. His term was due to expire in 2004.

According to Bailey, Dr. Smith stated in his resignation that he had recently lost a partner from his practice and has an overload of work.

Bailey said he will contact the Governor's Office and the Kentucky Medical Association and begin finding a replacement physician from Western Kentucky.

In other business:

The board approved hiring Patricia Bausch as the board's legal counsel at the rate of $110 per hour. Bausch has been working for the board in a temporary position.
Lee Brown, chairperson of the Administrative Regulations Committee, announced that there has been three public comment session held throughout the state in the past month. A final session will be held March 8 at 1:00 p.m. EST in Paintsville at the Paintsville Recreation Center on Preston Street. Those wanting to attend can call 606.789.7376 for directions. "The game plan is to compile the comments and distribute them to the committees so they can start meeting and start doing work," said Bailey. Brown added that those who cannot attend the comment sessions are welcome to send written comments to her.
Brian Bishop, executive director, reported that over $1.7 million has been transferred to the board. Of this, a little over $1.4 million is dedicated to Senate Bill 66 grants. That leaves $296,000 in operational funds for the remainder of the fiscal year. Judge Stratton, who is also chairman of the budget committee, reported that he "looks forward to having a budget together shortly." Judge Stratton encouraged those in the audience to "hang on so we can try to get things together and get those [Senate 66 bill grants] out."
Bishop also announced that all contracts held by the former EMS Branch will be cancelled effective March 31. Most contracts, including that with the Kentucky EMT Instructors Association (which conducts EMT testing) and local health departments which employ some of the state inspectors will be reissued under the board's name.
Bishop reported that he is waiting for the state personnel department to approve staff positions. After approval, those positions must be posted on the state Internet site for 10 days. Bishop said that it's only an estimate but "we should expect to hire personnel by April 1."
Bishop reported that he made initial site visits yesterday for the new board's permanent location. A total of eight sites were inspected. All have to be allowed the opportunity to bid, and the board is almost required to take the lowest bid. Bishop said that a new office has not been budgeted for and that "a lot of these things will not be able to take place until the new fiscal year," adding that it may take four months to complete.
Bailey reported that the board's goal is to end the moratorium on approving protocols, medical directors, and paramedic classes by May.
Bishop reported that the board recently began running a new computer system and is now issuing certifications and licenses.
The board voted to deny an initial paramedic certification for an unannounced paramedic candidate as the result of a Class D felony conviction. The board also voted to revoke EMT certification number 23176 as the result of a Class D felony conviction. The board also voted to ratify a cease and desist order against ambulance service license 1580. According to public records, ambulance service license number 1580 is held by Res-Q Ambulance in Prestonsburg.

Absent from today's meeting were BLS ambulance administrator representative Edward Kyle Faulkner and hospital administrator representative Connie Smith. Bailey noted that Ms. Smith was on EMS-related business in Washington, D.C.

BACK TO NEWS INDEX

BACK TO MAIN INDEX

COMMENTS