Blanco County in danger of losing some EMS service

[Guest guest]

FYI y'all.

-Wes Ogilvie

Blanco County officials: Emergency services not affected by state inquiry

Blanco County emergency service provider, Blanco Volunteer Ambulance Corps,

is in danger of having its license revoked.

By _ Lorenz_

(http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/06/09/mailto:alorenz@s\

tatesman.com)

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Monday, June 09, 2008

State officials in the next few weeks could decide to pull the licenses of

the ambulance provider for southern Blanco County and its director.

Such a move would put a strain on nearby services that would fill in the gap

and increase emergency response times. But area officials say they are

optimistic that the Blanco Volunteer Ambulance Corps, accused of failing to

monitor controlled substances, will prevail in its case.

" Everything seems to be quiet, and operations seem to be going smoothly, "

said Blanco County Commissioner Granberg, whose precinct includes the EMS

office. " I had kind of forgotten that we had all that turmoil here a couple

months ago. "

Earlier this year, the Department of State Health Services proposed revoking

the licenses of the corps; its director, Mark McMain; and staff paramedic

" Suzy " Armstead.

An audit found that McMain had dipped into stores of the drug fentanyl 237

times over 16 months without medical authorization or proper documentation.

McMain told state health department officials that he was giving the painkiller

to his wife.

McMain has been barred from treating patients but is still director of the

corps.

The state health department suspended Armstead's paramedic license for 18

months, accusing her of either helping McMain or not reporting his activity. The

probated suspension allows her to continue treating patients.

However, the state has made no final decision in the cases against McMain or

the corps. McMain did not return two phone calls requesting comment last

week.

In March, the state accused McMain of other violations, including that he

falsified license renewal applications in 2003 and 2007 by failing to disclose

that he was charged with misappropriating $20,000 from the Blanco Volunteer

Fire Department in 1992, a felony, and received 10 years of probation.

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration is also investigating a criminal

case against McMain related to that incident, but no charges have been

filed.

Should the state revoke the corps' license, Blanco Mayor Pro Tem Ron Houston

said that officials in nearby City and Spring Branch have agreed to

provide emergency services to residents in southern Blanco County.

But, he said, losing the corps would greatly increase response times in the

area.

" It would affect so many people. I just don't believe the state would do

that, " said Houston, a former volunteer for the corps.

The volunteer ambulance corps is funded through the South Blanco County

Emergency Services District, which collects tax revenue from residents. The rest

of the county is covered by the North Blanco County EMS. Its director, Tim

Vasquez, did not recall a call for comment.

Jerry Myane, the president of the South Blanco district, said, " I haven't

heard anything that makes me believe our entire unit is going to be shut down. "

Myane said he's been told that initial results of an audit of the corps'

finances in 2006 and 2007 did not reveal anything unusual.

The district gave the ambulance corps $228,000 in 2006 and 2007 for a new

ambulance and monthly expenses. The corps has been paid $48,000 so far this

year.

The district's secretary and treasurer, Kellner, said no financial

records exist from before she started on the board two years ago.

Kellner said that this week, she will release budget records that the corps

must submit each year to the district, in response to a request made by the

American-Statesman under the Texas Public Information Act.

The corps has refused to release financial documents requested by the

Statesman.

In March, the Statesman asked the corps to provide financial audits,

employment contracts, drug logs and reports on treatment visits to McMain's

wife.

After the agency didn't respond within 10 days as required by the state law, a

complaint was submitted to the Texas attorney general's office. The case is

pending, attorney general spokesman Tom Kelley said.