Sedgwick County will be conducting a regional search for a new director for Emergency Medical Services. The county will also move to separate EMS from the Office of Medical Director, reversing an action taken in 2019.
The decision was announced Wednesday after county commissioners met in executive session for an hour to get a briefing on issues within the EMS system. Commissioner Jim Howell last week blamed the merger of EMS and OMD for morale problems and staff turnover, and he called the situation a “dangerous crisis.”
EMS director John Gallagher was placed on administrative leave with pay earlier this week. The county has been waiting on a report from a Wichita law firm that has been looking into issues with EMS.
County Manager Tom Stolz told KFDI News that five actions will be taken:
–An interim EMS director will be named, and Stolz wants to meet with EMS staff to find out who the best choice would be.
–EMS will be separated from the Office of Medical Director, and a search will likely take place for a local physician who can serve as Medical Director.
–A citizen review and advisory board will be created for EMS. Stolz said this will include people from the health professions and emergency services.
–A policy will be created to improve communications for employee complaints. Stolz said the county has a grievance procedure, which goes into effect when a job action is taken with an employee. He wants to create a policy where employees feel empowered to talk to fellow employees about problems and challenges, and he plans to take that policy to the County Commission in August.
Stolz expects the search for an EMS director to take 60 to 90 days. He said he has talked with the law firm that is looking at the EMS system, and their final report is not completed, but he has enough information to take the steps that have been taken this week.
Stolz said Dr. Gallagher will not return to EMS, and a decision will be made in the next few days regarding his status.
Stolz submitted a statement on EMS for the public and for the County Commission, and it is available through this link: https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/manager/ems-statement/
