By MIKE GARRETT
The Pueblo Chieftain (Colorado)
The Trinidad Ambulance District is awaiting the outcome of a recent Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment assessment visit and an ongoing state Attorney General’s office investigation.
“What my office is involved in now is an EMS (emergency medical services) assessment,” said Randy Kuykendall, Department of Public Health chief of emergency medical and trauma services section. The Southern Colorado Regional Emergency Medical & Trauma Advisory Council (RETAC) contracted three outside experts to conduct the assessment.
That comes after the Department of Health revoked former ambulance district Executive Director Bobby Garduno’s and another district employee’s paramedic licenses last November.
The state health department should complete its ambulance district assessment by the end of April, according to Kuykendall.
“Our authority is over certified EMTs (emergency medical technicians), not over billing practices and services,” Kuykendall explained. “Our investigation per se is done and we have come to closure with respect to revoking the licenses of the two Trinidad EMTs.
Kuykendall said he expects a completed assessment report no later than April 27 after which RETAC and his office will present their findings at a public forum.
Ambulance District legal counsel Leslie Gerbracht said the assessment team spent three days in Trinidad interviewing her, current and former district employees and board members, and reviewing EMT records.
Gerbracht said the board has recognized the ongoing problems and the need to do a complete assessment of district emergency services.
Attorney general office spokeswoman Kristen Hubbell said Thursday she couldn’t confirm how much longer that investigation is likely to take. She said the attorney general’s investigation into alleged Medicare billing improprieties is separate from the health department assessment.
Gerbracht said Brandon Chambers, who replaced Garduno in December, is expected to remain interim executive director for the foreseeable future. His status will be re-evaluated after the health department issues its April report.
“The board at this time has decided not to interview or hire a permanent executive director until after the assessment team gives its report and recommendations,” said Gerbracht.