Prior to rollover we were told that emergency medical response systems may have y2k problems. This report suggests that the state is falling short in monitoring ambulance response times and regulating other aspects of EMS. Keeping that in mind, try reading between the lines of this complicated story which concludes with :

``We will be looking at systems, controls, how the authority is dispensed from the commissioner on down, whether legislative policy is being implemented,'' Johnston said. ``Basically, it's a question of whether the agency is accomplishing what it is supposed to do.''

Sullivan Seeks Deep EMS Audit By MIKE McINTIRE

The Hartford Courant January 25, 2000

Angered by new accounts of turmoil in the state's emergency medical services office, Senate President Pro Tem Kevin B. Sullivan called Monday for investigations of ``inappropriate bureaucratic and political influence'' inside the health department.

Sullivan asked the state's bipartisan auditors to conduct a rare performance audit of the department's oversight of EMS, an in- depth examination of management and personnel issues that goes far beyond the financial audits the office normally performs.

In addition, Sullivan asked the legislature's investigations committee to probe ``allegations of misfeasance and malfeasance'' leveled by Deborah Haliscak, who resigned this month as the state's EMS director. Haliscak told The Courant that political and bureaucratic interference was hobbling the state's oversight of emergency medical services.

``I realize this is a rather unusual request,'' Sullivan wrote in a letter to the auditors. ``Then again, this is an unusually disturbing problem that has lingered for far too long. Enough is enough.''

The Senate president's actions come one year after he made a similar demand for a legislative investigation of the state's emergency medical services system. That probe, also spurred by newspaper accounts of problems at the health department, is ongoing, and so far has resulted in two reports that concluded the state is falling short in monitoring ambulance response times and regulating other aspects of EMS.

With this latest salvo, Sullivan has dragged back onto center stage a controversial issue, one that embroiled the General Assembly in acrimonious debate last year and contributed to the resignation of Health Commissioner Stephen Harriman. In an interview, Sullivan, a West Hartford Democrat, said Harriman's departure apparently did not solve all of the agency's problems.

``It could be a case where removing the head doesn't take care of the body,'' he said. ``A change at the top has not resulted in a change within the department, and I am surprised that the new commissioner has not sent a clearer message down the line.

``I want to know, what does it take to turn this operation around and make it work?'' Health department officials did not return calls seeking comment Monday.

Haliscak - the second state EMS director to resign since 1997 - has complained that she was not allowed to make decisions or enact changes, and was asked to find a job for a Republican Party activist referred from Gov. John G. Rowland's office. She said oversight of emergency medical services continues to be hobbled by interference from department officials left over from the Harriman administration.

In an interview last week, Health Commissioner Joxel Garcia defended his staff and their handling of emergency medical issues. He characterized EMS as ``the ugly duckling'' of the agency that needed more attention, and said he is committed to improving it.

Sullivan said in his letter to auditors Kevin Johnston and Robert Jaekle that he wants an examination of how the health department as a whole handles emergency medical services, and not just an audit of the EMS office, which has shrunk dramatically in recent years. Johnston said Monday that his office conducts only a few performance audits a year, and recently completed an extensive one that found problems with management of the state's surplus real estate. He said an audit of the state's EMS functions could take ``a considerable amount of time.'' ``We will be looking at systems, controls, how the authority is dispensed from the commissioner on down, whether legislative policy is being implemented,'' Johnston said. ``Basically, it's a question of whether the agency is accomplishing what it is supposed to do.''

Angered by new accounts of turmoil in the state's emergency medical services office, Senate President Pro Tem Kevin B. Sullivan called Monday for investigations of ``inappropriate bureaucratic and political influence'' inside the health department.

Sullivan asked the state's bipartisan auditors to conduct a rare performance audit of the department's oversight of EMS, an in-depth examination of management and personnel issues that goes far beyond the financial audits the office normally performs.

In addition, Sullivan asked the legislature's investigations committee to probe ``allegations of misfeasance and malfeasance'' leveled by Deborah Haliscak, who resigned this month as the state's EMS director. Haliscak told The Courant that political and bureaucratic interference was hobbling the state's oversight of emergency medical services.

``I realize this is a rather unusual request,'' Sullivan wrote in a letter to the auditors. ``Then again, this is an unusually disturbing problem that has lingered for far too long. Enough is enough.''

The Senate president's actions come one year after he made a similar demand for a legislative investigation of the state's emergency medical services system. That probe, also spurred by newspaper accounts of problems at the health department, is ongoing, and so far has resulted in two reports that concluded the state is falling short in monitoring ambulance response times and regulating other aspects of EMS.

With this latest salvo, Sullivan has dragged back onto center stage a controversial issue, one that embroiled the General Assembly in acrimonious debate last year and contributed to the resignation of Health Commissioner Stephen Harriman. In an interview, Sullivan, a West Hartford Democrat, said Harriman's departure apparently did not solve all of the agency's problems.

``It could be a case where removing the head doesn't take care of the body,'' he said. ``A change at the top has not resulted in a change within the department, and I am surprised that the new commissioner has not sent a clearer message down the line.

``I want to know, what does it take to turn this operation around and make it work?'' Health department officials did not return calls seeking comment Monday.

Haliscak - the second state EMS director to resign since 1997 - has complained that she was not allowed to make decisions or enact changes, and was asked to find a job for a Republican Party activist referred from Gov. John G. Rowland's office. She said oversight of emergency medical services continues to be hobbled by interference from department officials left over from the Harriman administration.

In an interview last week, Health Commissioner Joxel Garcia defended his staff and their handling of emergency medical issues. He characterized EMS as ``the ugly duckling'' of the agency that needed more attention, and said he is committed to improving it.

Sullivan said in his letter to auditors Kevin Johnston and Robert Jaekle that he wants an examination of how the health department as a whole handles emergency medical services, and not just an audit of the EMS office, which has shrunk dramatically in recent years.

Johnston said Monday that his office conducts only a few performance audits a year, and recently completed an extensive one that found problems with management of the state's surplus real estate. He said an audit of the state's EMS functions could take ``a considerable amount of time.'' ``We will be looking at systems, controls, how the authority is dispensed from the commissioner on down, whether legislative policy is being implemented,'' Johnston said. ``Basically, it's a question of whether the agency is accomplishing what it is supposed to do.''

Link to story:

http://www.ctnow.com/scripts/editorial.dll?fromspage=CG/articles/state.htm&categoryid=&bfromind=557&eeid=1472115&eetype=article&render=y&ck=&ver=hb1.2.20

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), January 26, 2000