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EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah (AP) -- City officials have moved to oust one of the city's longest-serving EMS workers, Jack Homen, who has been critical of new administration practices.
"I blew the whistle on them, and so I'm being punished," he said Thursday. "They don't mind me working tonight though."
"Jack Homen has been a dedicated paramedic firefighter who stayed on this past year during the mass exodus of our volunteers, working many, many extra shifts," Councilwoman Linn Strouse said. "I would have expected him to get an award or at least a letter of gratitude for his exemplary professional service.
"There is a question of violating federal law because they had him working so many hours and now they are firing him, it's crazy. There's obviously many more questions that need to be answered," Strouse said.
Homen was given notice to resign, be fired or appeal allegations made against him.
Chief of staff Mike Wren alleged that Homen administered the asthma drug Albuterol on June 3 to a patient during an emergency call without following proper protocol, and used a city vehicle for personal reasons the following day.
Homen said he administered nebulized Albuterol to an asthma patient having a bronchospasm according to the protocol set by the county.
"We gave her medicine according to protocol, she didn't want to be transported, she signed a release, we contacted the hospital and that was it," he said. "That is exactly what the protocol says."
Dr. Mark Bair, director of quality assurance for Utah County EMS and medical director for Eagle Mountain EMS, said he could not comment on the specific allegations, but, in general, when nebulized Albuterol is administered, medical personnel are required only to call the hospital before the patient is released, not before administering the drug.
As for the allegation that Homen used a fire truck for personal use, he said the Firefighters Auxiliary was using the fire department's utility truck to haul barbecue equipment to the park for the firefighters' annual Pony Express Days fundraiser.
A part-time employee and captain of the Eagle Mountain Fire Department, Homen has been a full-time paramedic for 23 years for the Unified Fire Authority and is also a part-time paramedic for the Saratoga Springs Fire Department.
Wren declined to comment, but confirmed the city had given Homen the letter.
Homen's Unified Fire Authority captain, Ken Sharp, said Homen is a stickler for protocol.
"Patient care comes first. He always follows the protocols," he said. "I don't know of any problems that anyone has had with him."
Homen's Saratoga Springs Chief Mike Penovich said he would provide Homen with more hours as a paramedic while he investigates.
Strouse and former firefighters have been critical of the administration of Fire Chief Rand Andrus, who was hired last August. They say firefighters are not attending training meetings or answering calls, and shifts are inadequately staffed, putting residents at risk.
In January, Homen wrote a letter to Mayor Brian Olsen that was critical of the department.
City administrators said Homen's complaints were "false" and "sensationalized" and that Homen "did not follow the appropriate chain of command."
Homen said that with 12 part-time paramedics and a full-time chief, the city will not have enough staff to fill all shifts.
Olsen said public safety is not at risk.
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Information from: The Daily Herald, http://www.heraldextra.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
