CREEDE­– Mineral County Ambulance officials were directed by county commissioners Tuesday to continue serving in spite of an expired certificate permitting the service to handle controlled substances and certain chemicals.

Ambulance Director Don Dustin told commissioners that a letter sent from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was received by the Mineral County Ambulance Board in November notifying them of the need to renew their DEA Certificate of Registration which would expire on January 31, 2018.

“The problem is we have to have this certification in order to administer even the most simple things like oxygen or saline,” Dustin said. “Without this certification, you might as well get a ride to the hospital with Uber.”

Dustin explained to the board that board secretary Sandy Kroll gave the letter to him on March 7, months after the actual letter was received. Dustin took action immediately, contacting Ambulance Medical Director Dr. Jennifer Harbert, who upon receiving the letter told Dustin to continue running the ambulance as normal and that she would look into getting the certification renewed.

“I sent several emails to Dr. Harbert inquiring about the status of the renewal and have yet to hear anything back,” Dustin said. “So, I brought the letter to Janelle Kukuk (county administrator) so that the county commissioners would be up to date.”

Kukuk said that although she was unsure who was responsible for renewing the certificate, she was under the impression that Dr. Harbert was the only one who could do so.

In the letter received by the DEA it states, “It is important that you understand that Federal law prohibits you from handling-controlled substances or List 1 chemicals once the DEA registration has expired and it is in a retired status.”

Commissioner Ramona Weber spoke up asking if there was anything they as a board could do, to which Dustin answered that a solution would have to come from Dr. Harbert. Commissioner Jesse Albright asked if it would do any good to call the DEA to see if Dr. Harbert had started the renewal process.

Kukuk said Mineral County Emergency Manager Terry Wetherill had visited the DEA web site, but was not able to do anything.

“You as a board can opt to suspend ambulance services until the renewal process is complete,” said Kukuk.

“I would rather ask for forgiveness than go without services,” Weber said.

Albright took a moment during the meeting to call the number listed on the letter from the DEA and was told that there was not an active renewal in process from Dr. Harbert. It was decided to try and reach Dr. Harbert and get the situation resolved as quickly as possible.

The DEA did say that if commissioners could get Dr. Harbert’s permission and medical license number, they could begin the process. Commissioners planned to act immediately and get the matter resolved.

CUTLINE

Mineral County Commissioners discuss a letter received from the DEA notifying the ambulance board that they need to renew their controlled substance certification.