Western Virginia EMS Council faces leadership change and program shifts amid state restructuring

At the County Fire and Rescue Commission meeting, the council’s representative reported that the Western Virginia EMS Council will post an executive-director opening after Steve Simon returned to Salem as fire chief. Sandy McGrath is serving as acting executive director until a permanent hire is made.

The EMS council submitted a proposal to the state to continue as an EMS council under recent consolidation rules; council representatives expect results in early October and said a decision may be announced around the council meeting on Oct. 2. If the state declines the proposal, other organizations may assume council responsibilities.

Commissioners heard updates on council programs: a pharmacy supply program delivers medications every two weeks and offers pricing the representative described as better than some vendors; interested agencies were invited to contact the council representative for details. The Southwest Virginia Healthcare Coalition is separating from EMS councils after losing federal funding, a change the representative said is still being worked out.

The EMS representative also noted increasing competition for grant funding as prices rise while grant pools remain unchanged, and predicted that only a fraction of requested funds will be awarded this cycle. A regional training symposium is planned Nov. 7–9 in Radford, with registration opening Oct. 1; the state is also restructuring its annual awards program and will reduce categories.

No formal action was taken by the commission on council staffing or program issues during the meeting; the report was informational and commissioners were invited to follow up with the representative for participation details.