AMBULANCE BOARD TALKS ABOUT RANDOM DRUG TESTS

Kanawha County Ambulance Authority board members had a mixed response to
the subject of random drug testing when it was introduced Friday.

"We've got a solution before we have a problem," said board member Harry
Miller.

Miller and several other board members opposed changing the county
ambulance board's drug testing policy. Ambulance staff members, including
drivers, aren't tested unless administrators have a reason or "probable cause."

Board member and Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper brought
the idea of random testing to Joe Lynch, the authority's director.

"This deserves a hard, serious, open-minded look," Carper told the board.

Since 1990, Lynch said only seven incidents with drugs or alcohol have been
reported or dealt with. Two employees resigned when asked to take drug
tests and two others took the tests, which resulted in negative readings.
Only one person has been fired from the authority for a drug or alcohol
violation since 1990, Lynch said.

The authority has even stopped testing prospective employees because of the
excessive cost and lack of positive tests, Lynch said.

Authority officials estimate it could cost about $49 per test. The agency
employs 210 employees in positions that could be required to submit to
random tests.

Carper said some employees may be unhappy with random tests, but he called
the current policy too harsh.

"I believe in a second chance," Carper said of the "zero tolerance" policy.

He also asked about a "Safe Harbor" policy, which would provide services in
the event of a drug or alcohol incident with an employee.

John Burdette, the authority's medical director, also recommended a policy
that would offer follow-up treatment or counseling for employees who may
have a problem.

"I think we have a fairly good system here," Burdette said.

Board members agreed to allow their personnel committee to review the
subject and report next month.

The board also asked Lynch and administrators to come up with guidelines
for taking authority vehicles home.

Burdette was recently issued a Jeep Cherokee so he can observe some
ambulance runs.

He said he wants to be more involved with medics on the street, which he
has done in similar jobs previously.

"I'm trying to extend my role," Burdette said.

Carper warned board members to be cautious with allowing vehicles to be
taken home.

"Sometimes, things like this can be a problem," Carper said.

Burdette said there is an advantage to having the Cherokee, which is marked
with letters and a light bar, because he can get to accident scenes quicker.