Squad’s License Returned By State, Still Prohibited From Running Calls By County Supervisors

By Benjamin Weathers

SHENANDOAH, April 23 — One week after the Virginia Office of EMS revoked the license of the town's volunteer rescue squad, the state agency has reversed its decision.The state revoked the squad's license on April 16, after a dispute with the county over its franchise agreement prompted the board of supervisors to withdraw its support of the organization. However, on Friday, the state agency returned the license to the squad, stating that it could not be revoked until the squad had received its due process, including a 30-day waiting period and formal fact-finding hearing.While the license has been returned from the state, the squad is still prohibited from running calls by county supervisors. Under state law, the rescue squad is required to have authority from the local governing body in order to be active.According to county officials, the issue revolves around the use of the squad's medical director — a doctor whose license each volunteer essentially practices under. Under the county franchise agreement, all three of the county's volunteer rescue squads must practice under the same medical director — identified by Page County Fire and Rescue Coordinator Wes Shifflett as Dr. Thomas Kuhlmann, an emergency room physician at Page Memorial Hospital.

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