County Reaction to the Kansas Board of Emergency Medical Services Order

(Sedgwick County, Kan.) – Yesterday, Sedgwick County was made aware of an order from the Kansas Board of Emergency Medical Services against an EMS employee relating to a call on June 19, 2019.  Additionally, we understand the Kansas Board of Emergency Medical Services has ordered an investigation of Sedgwick County EMS and we will fully cooperate into this investigation.  

Since the onset of this investigation, which was opened on July 10, 2019 by the Kansas Board of Emergency Medical Services, Sedgwick County has fully cooperated and provided all materials requested. On March 20, 2021, Sedgwick County was made aware of an order sanctioning three EMS employees. On December 2, 2021, a fourth EMS employee was made aware of an order to be sanctioned. These employees have continued to work as paramedics and front line responders over the past 30 months without incident. The order is not final and the County will continue to employ them in that capacity while contesting the proposed action. 

As provided to the Kansas Board of Emergency Medical Services, immediately following the incident in 2019, the Sedgwick County Medical Society reviewed the EMS care delivered during this incident and sent the following conclusion:

• The EMS providers delivered appropriate care within their protocols and their scope of practice.
• The EMS physician provided care that fully meets the standard of care.

“Sedgwick County continues to cooperate with any investigation regarding any EMS decisions made in the past. The county has been waiting patiently for almost a year for a due process hearing where all facts of the case mentioned could be laid out to an unbiased hearing official.” said Rusty Leeds Assistant County Manager Public Safety. 

Sedgwick County will continue to vigorously defend the actions of its employees in this matter and ensure they are afforded their right to due process. We stand behind our paramedics who responded to this horrific call for service.

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