Sedgwick County Commissioner Jim Howell is calling for action to deal with what he calls a “dangerous crisis” with the county’s Emergency Medical Services system.
Howell read a statement at Wednesday’s commission meeting, stating that since October of 2018 the EMS system has battled morale issues that have resulted in high levels of attrition and an overwhelming loss of institutional skill and experience.
Howell cited recent investigative reports by the Wichita Eagle, and said he believes the reports to be credible and factual. He also cited a 2019 petition that was submitted to county commissioners on the EMS system, a report from the Kansas Board of Emergency Medical Services in March of this year that raised concerns over the handling of a suicide case in 2019, and discussions he has had with EMS staff.
Sedgwick County hired the Wichita law firm of Hite, Fanning and Honeyman in the spring to conduct an assessment of EMS operations and leadership.
Howell is blaming the crisis on a 2019 decision to merge EMS with the Office of the Medical Director. He said the County Commission doesn’t have the authority to make needed changes, so he is calling for County Manager Tom Stolz to separate the offices and return to the previous system. He said the county needs to look for the best people to lead the separate organizations, and he believes that will “stop the hemorrhaging and begin to restore the EMS system back to health. ”
A proposed 2022 budget from Stolz has outlined the goals of organizational recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and compensation for county employees, and it also calls for a safety coordinator in the County Manager’s office to oversee public safety operations.
