Franklin Co. medical director says she was fired for public comments on handling of emergencies, EMS program

Franklin County leaders fired their medical director, who was contracted with the county for seven years, on Friday.

While the termination letter doesn't list an explanation of why Dr. Barbara Stiehl was fired, she said she believes it has everything to do with public comments she made about the county's EMS program and handling of emergencies during a commissioners' meeting on Feb. 7.

"There's no questions, this is simply retaliation for standing up publicly," said Stiehl.

"With the loss of a medical director, there's not much hope left for the wonderful citzens in Franklin County," she added/

Stiehl said she's been ordered to cease all activities after being fired as medical director for Franklin County.

County leaders haven’t given an explanation for the termination, but Stiehl said many weren’t happy with her claims that the county has one of the lowest cardiac arrest survival rates across all 100 counties in North Carolina.

Stiehl says the survival rate from cardiac arrest events in Franklin County sat at 3.5 percent in 2021 — a drop from 9.5 percent in 2020.

"I think they're in grave risk at this point," said Stiehl.

"In just one year, it has plummeted. To me, that;s horrifying," she added.

Stiehl said before Feb. 7, she sent multiple emails to request an official meeting with county commissioners, but never received an answer.

"I was unable to get any response to my request for an official meeting with commissioners after spending 13 months explaining all this to the county manger several times," she said.

But, county leaders say the overall survival to hospital admission rate sits at 28.6 percent. It's a statistic that county leaders say accurately depicts the quality of life saving care that Franklin County’s EMS staff provides.

“The Franklin County EMS System is properly functioning and approved by the N.C. Office of Emergency Medical Services. Any perceived or reported deficiencies by the county’s contract medical director are the direct result of a lack of communication and sharing of information by the medical director and the former director of Emergency Services within county leadership," a spokeswoman for Franklin County said in a statement.

But, Stiehl said Franklin County is growing, and the county's ability to respond to emergencies must grow too.

"I think they're in real trouble now, and I feel for them ... We are all responsible to the citizens. They pay taxes and deserve to get the care they expect," said Stiehl. "Everyone deserves a second chance at life — absolutely. If we can do it within two minutes, it's certainly worth the fight."

All EMS services are required to operate under license of medical doctor Dr. Tripp Winslow, the medical director of the N.C. Office of EMS, is now acting medical director director for the county. ​