State investigating EMT training

The state typically audits EMS training programs across Georgia every two years, and the next regular audits are scheduled to begin in January.

But an unscheduled audit sometimes is conducted in the wake of a complaint filed with the state, Shekell said.

“Upon receiving such a complaint or accusation, the state begins an investigation and monitors courses on an as-needed basis,” she said.

Shekell did not disclose the source of the complaint against Barrow County Emergency Services.

However, questions have been raised both privately and publicly about the county fire department’s recently disclosed practice of curving scores or eliminating difficult questions on preemployment tests for firefighter/EMT candidates.

Also under scrutiny is whether former Barrow County fire chief Mitch Kitchens completed a state-mandated Emergency Medical Technician refresher course he took online at a Barrow fire station.

His EMT license lapsed in 2008, and in order to have his license reinstated, he was required to complete 40 hours of continuing education, to complete a 40-hour EMT refresher course, and to pass a national certification test, Shekell said.

Kitchens completed the 40 hours of continuing education late last spring at the Gwinnett County Fire Academy, where he was enrolled for a few months as a firefighter trainee.

Also, two Barrow County training officers told state officials he also completed the mandatory refresher course online at Barrow County Emergency Services.

However, the course completion certificate signed last December by Bryan Bullock stated that Kitchens had completed a 36-hour course; five months later, Lt. Kevin Locke reported in a memo to the state that the same course was 48 hours.

Course documentation provided to the Barrow Journal last week indicated that Kitchens was logged into the 36-hour course for only 43 minutes over five days.

The longest continuous period of time he was online on any of the five days was 22 minutes.

Asked to explain the apparent discrepancies, Interim Barrow County emergency services chief John Skinner stated in an Oct. 13 email that Locke had merely made a mistake and that the course was 36 hours.

For more on this story, see the October 20 edition of the Barrow Journal or click here to read the full story online when you subscribe to our new e-edition.