Jason Meador announced via personal Facebook Wednesday his resignation as director and employee of the Trigg County Hospital and its ambulance/EMS services.
Meador wrote that he made the decision Tuesday, and that if he had to make that decision again today, “he would.”
He cited an environment of stress, jealousy and “toxic people,” but that he was proud of accomplishments achieved, friendships made and opportunities earned during his tenure.
In a statement to the News Edge, Meador confirmed the decision, but couldn’t further comment on that matter because of an open investigation — contents of which he is unaware of at this time.
However, he could confirm that “very few” EMS staff remain at Trigg County Hospital. Apparently, he said, officials are contracting with an outside private agency to provide staff through Merci Phoenix — a company that provides pre-hospital care and emergency medical services through its clients.
Meador alleged that John Sumner, Trigg County President & CEO, recently told staff that he would “spend any amount of money needed,” after Meador said he had been fighting for pay raises “for years.”
EMT Basic in Cadiz starts at $15 an hour, while advanced EMT starts at $18.40 and paramedic at $22.50, with reportedly no increases on experience.
Meador noted that “no one at the hospital has had a cost-of-living raise” since Sumner has taken over, and that health insurance on a family hospital plan is roughly $1,800 a month with vision and dental, and that this is one of the many reasons it has been difficult finding full-time EMS staff.
The national EMS shortage, Meador admitted, hasn’t helped, either.
The Elf Magic Squad, he said, is business as usual. No changes are planned for that, and he plans to continue its efforts as coordinator. The organization is not affiliated with Trigg County Hospital.
Because there is an ongoing investigation, Sumner said he could not comment at this time.
Meador worked for the hospital for more than three decades, but said the last few months had been “stress, second guessing and [like] babysitting a 3-year-old,” and that he had enough.
