Turmoil in Hinsdale County’s Emergency Medical Service culminated last Thursday, April 9, with strongly-worded letters and social media post from Chief Paramedic Brad Jones announcing his resignation effective immediately.
Jones, who worked with Hinsdale EMS for 5.5 years, starting with a volunteer position in 2020, was a well-known seasonal presence in Lake City who worked hand-in-hand with the local corps of Emergency Medical Technicians. He also worked closely with EMS Director Katherine Heidt and Western Slope Regional Medical Director Dr. Avery MacKenzie.
As an extension of Dr. MacKenzie’s credentials, Hinsdale EMTs are allowed to provide medical care to patients and operate the county’s ambulance system.
In the wake of Chief Paramedic Jones’ resignation last week, Dr. MacKenzie has now reduced the scope of local EMTs’ medical purvue from ALS — providing Advanced Life Support — to BLS, Basic Life Support.
The change from ALS to BLS, according to EMS Director Heidt, also carries with it a significant reduction in the amount of medication which EMTs are allowed to administer. Heidt adds that the change in procedure results in “considerable impacts to everyone who lives and visits here.”
Jones’ April 9 resignation comes in the immediate wake of a short special Hinsdale County Commissioners’ meeting last week (see separate article) late Wednesday morning, April 8, during which commissioners unanimously approved slight revisions to EMS Director Heidt’s contract.
Following Jones’ resignation, multiple county meetings were held, starting Tuesday, April 7, with Dr. MacKenzie remotely attending a specially-called county board workshop, also reported elsewhere this week’s issue, followed by the commissioners’ mid-month meeting on April 15.
Prior to resignation, Jones’ work with Hinsdale EMS entailed a year-round contract, principal of which was hands-on work with EMTs and patients on emergency calls from late spring through summer 630and early fall each year — EMS Director Heidt in her written communication to commissioners on Tuesday this week detailing that out of 100 EMS responses last summer, Chief Paramedic Jones was involved with a total of 67.
On his return to Lake City earlier this month, Jones immediately resumed his role as instructor during the final phase of this past winter’s 17-week Emergency Medical Technician training session
In the off-season, mid-fall through winter and into early spring, Jones was physically absent from Lake City but continued on contract with Hinsdale EMS with virtual training, drafting agency procedures and policies in writing, and overseeing CQI (Continual Quality Improvement).
Tensions with Hinsdale EMS escalated in late February this year when the employment of EMS Co-Captain Amanda Hartman, an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician, was terminated as the result of what was later described as a multi-month Human Resources conflict.
In letters announcing his resignation dated April 9 to EMS Director Heidt and Hinsdale EMS colleagues, Jones expressed criticism of Hinsdale County Commissioners, refering to the event as a “debacle” and conveying regret “I will be deprived of the opportunity to work alongside you all during the upcoming tourism season.”
“I am especially saddened to not be able to mentor and guide our EMT Academy graduates through their clearance process.”
A letter from one of those upcoming EMT Academy graduates, Lorie Stewart, was published in last week’s edition of SILVER WORLD.
Pictured left to right displaying IV supplies are EMT-IV Richard Williams, Chief Paramedic Brad Jones, EMS Director Katherine Heidt, and EMT-IV Kelly Elkins
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