By NICOLE CARTRETTE
Staff Writer
 
As early as today Columbus County will begin advertising for a county medical director to oversee emergency medical ambulance services throughout the county.

The decision to begin advertising for a new director came in a vote of the Board of Commissioners on Monday, after a lengthy closed session in which two county manager candidates were interviewed.

County medical director Dr. Fred Obrecht gave his letter of resignation on Sept. 27 and is working out his 60-day notice.

Personnel Director Virginia Taylor said Wednesday she had not been given details for the advertisement or where it would be placed but it was her understanding the posting would list only the state requirements.

Guidelines listed at the N.C. Office of EMS standards for the selection and performance of a medical director are set by N.C. College of Emergency Physicians. According to those guidelines, the medical director must be licensed to practice medicine or osteopathy in North Carolina and maintain an active clinical practice. In addition, the candidate must have “a working relationship with the local physician community” and preferably hold certification in Emergency Medicine.

The individual must have an education or experience in out-of-hospital care and have participated or have experience in the resuscitation of adult and pediatric patients who suffer from  acute illness or traumatic injury. Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws regarding EMS is also required. Proper medical liability coverage must be maintained.

Only medical directors appointed prior to Jan. 1, 2002 are exempt from maintaining board certification in emergency medicine.

There has been no word yet on what the board will budget for the position. The current director is paid $12,000 a year.  The total budget for the director is $53,000 but includes $25,000 in nurse liaison contract expenditures paid to Columbus Regional that the Board of Commissioners voted to terminate weeks prior to Obretch’s resignation.

Obrecht’s resignation comes nearly a month after a heated commissioner meeting in which eight of nine rescue chiefs from the county’s volunteer departments asked that he be fired.

They said communication was a problem in the system and alleged that Obrecht favored certain squads over others.

Obrecht said the problem was accountability. He said missed calls had been a problem with some squads and in his resignation letter accused the Board of Commissioners of valuing rescue votes over the lives of patients served.