By Heather Michon
The Fluvanna County Volunteer Fire Department has regained authorization to provide emergency medical services after a suspension lasting more than a month.
In a statement released on Oct. 19, Fire Chief Andrew Pullen said the department’s EMS Authorization to Practice was restored, effective that day.
This came after a Sept. 11 announcement that Operational Medical Director (OMD) Dr. Brendan Byrne had suspended the department’s authorization, citing concerns about emergency response performance, tracking of quality assurance and quality improvement (QA/QI), and the lack of a designated EMS officer.
While Byrne’s concerns focused on Palmyra Volunteer Fire Company, the suspension also affected Fork Union and Kents Store. All three operate under the umbrella of the Fluvanna County Volunteer Fire Department. Lake Monticello Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad is a separate organization and was not affected.
The suspension affected only volunteer EMS personnel within the fire department. The county’s paid ambulance service, managed through the Fluvanna County Department of Emergency Services, continued operating throughout the suspension.
In the Oct. 19 statement, department officials said Palmyra leadership and members worked closely with the OMD to address the deficiencies and show that corrective measures were in place.
The original suspension was imposed for up to 45 days; authorization was restored after 38 days.
“We are grateful to our members who have taken this situation seriously and worked diligently to make the necessary improvements,” Pullen said. “Our goal throughout this process has been to address the concerns, strengthen our systems, and ensure that we have the accountability and oversight necessary to prevent these issues from occurring again.”
Although the statement did not detail specific changes, the department said it had implemented additional procedures intended to improve accountability and consistency in its EMS operations.
While the restoration allows volunteer EMS personnel to resume providing care under the department’s authorization, officials acknowledged that maintaining compliance will require continued attention.
Department EMS Officer April Walker said restoring authorization was only the beginning of a longer process.
“We understand that restoring the Authorization to Practice is only one step,” Walker said. “The real measure of our success will be our ability to consistently follow these processes, hold ourselves accountable, and maintain the standards our community expects from its fire and EMS providers.”
