Another State Agency Probing S.C. EMS Company
July 23--WILLIAMSTON -- Another state agency is investigating Williamston Emergency Medical Services after allegations that grant money intended for heart monitors was spent on something else.
Meanwhile, the troubled Williamston operation is at least $300,000 in debt and an Anderson bank has seized four of its ambulances. Anderson County has entered a temporary contract with Medshore Ambulance Service, a private company, to serve Williamston because the nonprofit rescue squad can no longer function on its own.
A spokeswoman for the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control confirmed its investigation of Williamston EMS to the Independent Mail this week. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is already investigating allegations that former Williamston EMS Chief Joe Barr mismanaged money. Barr resigned his post in May.
Cassandra Harris, a spokeswoman for the state's Department of Health and Environmental Control, said her agency issued a $42,193 grant for Williamston EMS sometime after June 4, 2014. The money was for cardiac-monitoring equipment, Harris said. Harris also confirmed that her agency is investigating what happened to the money.
Lea Davis, the interim chief of the Williamston squad, said the money was spent on something else, but that she and others still left there aren't sure what it went toward. Davis said that when the squad's expected monitors were ready, the money for them was gone and the equipment had to be returned to the company.
"We're working with DHEC and we think the company is trying to hold onto the equipment for us, but we are not sure what is going to happen," Davis said. "We've never been in a situation like this before, and I'm not sure that DHEC has ever been in a situation like this."
South Carolina law requires DHEC to develop standards and regulations for the improvement of emergency medical services statewide, Harris said. The state's public health agency is charged with regulating and licensing ambulance services, inspecting and permitting them, and also certifying personnel, among other duties.
"DHEC conducts biennial and random inspections of all EMS agency operations and vehicles," Harris said.
Since the beginning of the year, DHEC has inspected 76 agencies and 373 ambulances.
Greg Shore, the chief executive officer of Medshore, has hired most of the former employees of Williamston EMS, he said. Two of them went to work for other emergency medical services agencies, Shore said.
Officially, Williamston Emergency Medical Services doesn't exist as a separate entity anymore. Davis said that she is serving as the squad's interim chief just until the agency can sell its equipment to pay creditors and then get paperwork together for an audit.
Four of the agency's ambulances are already parked at First Citizens Bank on Greenville Street in Anderson, seized because of the Williamston operation's unpaid debt.
Once paperwork is gathered for an audit, the Williamston EMS board of directors, a group that functions independently from the town and the county, will be officially dissolved. Several county and town officials said they don't know who is on the board of directors.
Davis said Williamston EMS will try to sell at least seven ambulances that are still in its possession.
"We really don't know how much debt we'll find," Davis said. "It's sad. It's sad to all of us."
Davis has worked with Williamston EMS for 15 years. Now, she is a shift lieutenant with Medshore.
Anderson County pays nonprofit rescue squads in Belton, Honea Path, Iva, Pelzer, Pendleton, Townville and Williamston and the private company Medshore a total of $4 million annually to handle emergency calls.
A financial analysis done by accounting firm Greene, Finney & Horton in March found that most of the nonprofit squads were rated in poor shape and operating in the red. Squads in Belton and Iva were rated to be in fair financial condition, while only Pendleton Emergency Medical Services was rated in good shape.
Some of the EMS agencies disagree with the report, but it has prompted Anderson County to seek a separate, more thorough audit of each squad. The audit that Davis is preparing for in Williamston may end up being done separately from the larger report.
Shore, meanwhile, says he is working on a plan to centralize emergency medical services across Anderson County. He plans to meet with AnMed Health Medical Center's executive team next week to see what interest that organization may have in being part of the plan, he said. He hopes to finalize a plan and pitch it to Anderson County officials sometime soon.
AnMed spokeswoman Kari Lutz said Wednesday that Shore contacted the organization recently to "discuss a potential partnership."
"EMS plays an important role in the health of our community," Lutz said. "We welcome the upcoming discussion with Medshore and look forward to better understanding how we might be part of a solution."
Follow Nikie Mayo on Twitter @NikieMayo
Copyright 2015 - Anderson Independent Mail, S.C.
