Sedgwick County EMS Director John Gallagher has been placed on administrative leave with pay as county officials continue to look at issues within the EMS system.
County Manager Tom Stolz made the decision to place Dr. Gallagher on leave. Deputy EMS Director Paul Misasi and EMS Colonel Rill Robben will manage the department.
County officials say this is a personnel matter and no other information will be released.
The county hired a Wichita law firm earlier this year to look into the EMS system. County Commissioner Jim Howell said last week that the situation with EMS is a “dangerous crisis” because of low morale, resignations and staff shortages. Howell blames the problems on a 2019 merger of EMS with the Office of the Medical Director, and he is calling for those departments to be separated.
