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EMS worker fired, supervisor demoted By COURTNEY MARTIN, LTN Staff Writer March 29, 2002 - A Lincoln County EMS employee has been fired and a supervisor demoted following an investigation into a March 9 wreck on N.C. 150 in Crouse. Accident victim Crystal Palmer was reported dead by an EMS crew while still trapped inside her Jeep Cherokee. The wreckage was peeled away from her in a 90-minute effort and Palmer was found to be alive. She was airlifted to Charlotte’s Carolinas Medical Center and is now receiving rehabilitation services at a nursing home. EMS’s medical oversight committee and medical director conducted an in-house investigation into the incident. Following the investigation, Joseph Bailey, 26, a part-time paramedic who responded to the accident scene was terminated on March 21 and Robby Grisdale, 36, supervisor on the scene, was demoted to paramedic. Both had worked for Lincoln County EMS since July 1, 1999, when it was taken over by the county from Lincoln Medical Center. According to a written statement EMS issued March 26, the incident “did not contain any issues of substandard medical care.” The statement also cited confidentiality laws concerning personnel for not providing details of the investigation: “… we cannot discuss any specifics of the event, or actions arising as a result of the event.” Josh Wagner, Lincoln County EMS Public Relations Officer, did say Thursday that the problem with the EMS workers’ actions related to communicating that a victim was dead without confirmation. “I don’t want anyone to get the impression that there was a medical care deficiency,” said Wagner. Informing the communication center that Palmer was dead “was an operational confusion,” he said. The western office of the State Emergency Medical Services has received an incident report about the wreck and is satisfied with the local investigation and outcome. “We don’t see any reason to get involved unless someone were to request further investigation,” said Danny Harbinson with the state office. The Palmer family is disturbed by the action. “I don’t like the fact that EMS called it in wrong,” said James Palmer, the victim’s husband. “That could have slowed work down.” Palmer said his wife suffered brain trauma, but is doing better. She initially had problems remembering things and still cannot recall what happened at the time of the accident, but has regained the rest of her memory.
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© 2001 Lincoln Times-News |
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