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On September 25 I linked to a DC Examiner report by Bill Myers about a report by DC’s inspector general doing a check up on EMS in the Nation’s Capital. Here is what I wrote:
From worst to first? DC report says not yet: Two years ago the DC inspector general issued a scathing report about the treatment city fire and EMS crews provided to dying former New York Times reporter David Rosenbaum. Since then, the administration of Mayor Adrian Fenty and Chief Dennis Rubin has pointed to great progress in EMS after decades of neglect. According to the Examiner’s Bill Myers (in an article we missed earlier in the week), the inspector general has taken another look at EMS and DC and doesn’t like what he sees. Here’s an excerpt from the article:
The D.C. inspector general reported in a recent audit, obtained by The Examiner, that the D.C. Fire and Emergency Management System, the city’s main rescue service: Hasn’t established anything like a quality “medical assurance” program to protect the health and welfare of District citizens; Still suffers from “excessive turnover in key management positions”; And still doesn’t have enough staffers to coordinate rescue services for the city’s some 600,000 some citizens.
A few days later I received an email from DC Fire & EMS Department’s Director of Public Information Pete Piringer. The message began with the headline above. Attached was a lengthy rebuttal to the report in the Examiner and STATter911.com’s synopsis of the article.
While I did no original reporting on this topic and just linked and quoted from the Examiner, I still think it important that you hear all views. Myers wrote in his article that Piringer couldn’t be reached for comment, so the original article did not have any response from the department.
In his response, Piringer asks me to “acknowledge that the Examiner has published an inaccurate and irresponsible portrait of the D.C. Fire & EMS Department.”
I do not believe I am in a position or are armed with enough knowledge to make such a judgment. Instead, as I usually do, I will let you be the judge.
Above, I have links to both Piringer’s response and the OIG’s report. Below is the beginning of the response attached to Piringer’s email:
As you can imagine we are greatly disappointed after reading Bill Myers’ September 20, 2009 article in the D.C. Examiner “D.C. emergency system still has ways to go, inspector general says”. The article contains numerous factual inaccuracies and completely mischaracterizes the findings of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Report OIG No. 09-I-0028FB: “Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department Report of Re-Inspection and Update on FEMS Response to the Assault on David E. Rosenbaum, September 15, 2009.”
We respectfully request that you re-evaluate your Blog report and acknowledge that the Examiner has published an inaccurate and irresponsible portrait of the D.C. Fire & EMS Department.
The Examiner article begins by stating: “the District’s emergency rescue team remains woefully unprepared to deal with citizens’ emergencies, an internal review has found.” Nowhere in the OIG report is such a statement made, and this characterization is completely at odds with the findings of the OIG, who noted, “of the 31 original [OIG] recommendations made; FEMS was found to be in full compliance with 12, in partial compliance with 9, not in compliance with 6, and 4 recommendations were overtaken by events.” Furthermore, Inspector General Willoughby notes in the report (9/15/09), “ I commend FEMS for the improvements evidenced by those recommendations complied with, and ask that FEMS managers be encouraged to work diligently and expeditiously to bring the agency into full compliance on the remaining issues and the new recommendations.”
Also on STATter911 …
- Inspector General says fireboat capability in nation’s capital obsolete. Says DC Fire & EMS Department has no plans to replace 50-year-old vessel. – March 26, 2012
- Inspector General’s report says DC deputy fire chief violated city rules in controversial fire engine & ambulance donation. Read entire report. – April 26, 2011
- The anti-FEMS/pro-DCFD movement gets an ally and a bill. But look at what the cops got. – April 6, 2011
- The Name Game: Does FEMS mean anything to the citizens of the Nation’s Capital? – March 29, 2011
Comments
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Let's do the math on the compliance statement.
31 total
12 in compliance
9 in partial compliance
6 no compliance
4 overtaken by events
Overtaken by events says to me they didn't change anything, change happened to them. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, and will say that they would have made 2 and partially complied with one.
So now its
14 complied
10 partials
7 not done
10 partials = 5 done, 5 not done
so we have 19 done, 12 not done.
19/31 = 0.612 = 61.2%
Obviously a vast simplification. However, if I had been given 31 tasks, and after 3 years I was at 61 percent, I wouldn't exactly hang my hat on that one. Remember, they are correcting things that should not have been done in the first place. And they're taking their time about fixing them.
Kudos, FEMS. Bask in your barely passable state as a beacon of mediocrity. Maybe your new motto should be "Lay off, we're working on it". i mean it's not like we're talking about people's lives here, right?
Oh…
Over 100 years of Fire Department tradition Rubin has managed to ruin in his short few years with this department. Propaganda like this released from his PIO lackeys only serves his own agendas and doesn't paint the real picture.
Since they started all these EMS recommendations we've watched the steady decline of the DCFD's firefighting abilities which they so willfully cover up as "water supply issues".
When all you stress to your members is EMS, and you put them on the ambulances that they don't want to ride for a quarter of the year what do you get, you get firefighters with decaying firefighting skills and firehouses full of disgruntled members.
On top of that with Rubin and Fenty's union busting and complete and utter lack of respect for our membership as human beings we can treated like red-headed step children and can't even get our contract to go through (years overdue) or a simple thing like a decent disability retirement.
If you really want to do a story, uncover the facade that is the Rausenbaum EMS and a lil bit 'o fire department.
Anything negative that is going to reflect on Sir Adrian and King Dennis doings,in any negative way shall have messenger Piringer firing away with those such critics.
Dave these people do know wrong even when the obvious is known, they will flat out deny anything whether there telling you or the PIO is telling it for them.
You dont think Fenty and Rubin are going to stand in front of the microphone and say hey were trying, but since the Rosenbaum incident we still havent improved much. Though response times have improved, the situation as a whole hasnt and with Fenty having to keep his image smooth, he needs all agencies to make him look good. Anything negative then we start telling the citizens what they need to here, so they wont be alarmed.
Just like the Eastern Market Fire…We got 2 seasoned investigators who say its arson. Well we dont want to alarm the wealthy residents in the neighborhood that an arsonist is on the loose, so Fire Investigator Rubin will say its electrical in nature so everyone will feel at ease. Oh you 2 investigators want to go against my assumption that it was electrical and speak out…Oh well your not investigators anymore, your on a CSU. Have fun..
From Peter Nickels to Fenty to Rubin…these people put the C in Corrupt.
What does "OVERTAKEN BY EVENTS" mean? Sounds like the usual double-speak spouted by the leader of this band of uneducated nitwits who believe their own hype more than the facts!!
Calling all DC Fire Executives/Muckity Mucks.
Ah, Statter didn't write the report, or aren't you capable of reading the report and the author line.
The report made your whole organization look relatively inept, your chastising of this site make you look like morons. The report basically showed you can't polish a turd.
You shoulda quit while you were ahead.But in light of all that keep up the good work.
I read the whole report, which was quite lengthy. The part that makes the Department inept to me (and which wasn't mentioned in the Examiner article), is that Fire/EMS made different responses to the same IG recommendation. It was not just the wording, if often was a different substantive response. And the Department didn't indicate which one they wanted as their official comment. So the IG just published both! It makes for some interesting reading.
Dennis Rubin needs to be relieved of his duties.He is all about himself and nothing else.He is not interested in addressing any problems nor are his associates.He has lost touch with the members and has created an atmosphere of discontent.What was once a proud organization has done a complete turn for the worse.Until Rubin and his cronies are gone there will be improvements unless it makes him look good.
Well, for once "Ol' Dave" isn't the one who should be smacked for this! HE didn't write the report, HE didn't write the article, he ONLY quoted from it and he acknowledged his source! If Pete wants to bust somebody, he should go to the writer of the article! But it APPEARS that the writer of that article did some RESEARCH and got at least SOME facts!
Pete…Looks like YOU are BUSTED!
And as for "King Dennis" … Isn't it getting on towards the time that HE should be "moving along"? He bounces from department to department like an over-inflated basketball! Look at his resume! He spends more time "working the crowd" than actually being a leader or administrator! HE should have Pete's job! And Pete…well, he just kind of goes with the flow. Don't worry about little irritating things like FACTS (as was illustrated in a previous post with easy-to-understand math)! Just crank out the propoganda like you did over the border in Gorgeous Prince Georges!
The Mayor may not know much about the fire service, that's why he has a Fire Chief, but he needs to can this circus ringmaster and find a REAL one who will STAY ON THE JOB and not use his "position of prestige" for PERSONAL GAIN while the very department he was hired to lead crumbles due to his absence while he cruises the "free-dinner/lecture circuit" on the city's dime! That's NOT what he was hired to do!
Looks like some extra math here…
Dave 1
Pete 0
And "even a caveman" can do THAT math!
Dont worry im doing my best to see that Mr.Rubin sees his day soon. I said your day is coming to Rubin at a city council hearing for which i was terminated, so stay stuned as ive not lost focus of this day. And every single post on here is right on the money. When is the media going to stop scratching the surface on some of the smaller things when in fact the proof to these corrupt people is already written on the wall
Oh ya! While all of you guys are throwing numbers around, especially you Piringer, don't any of you high dollar geniuses realize that a grade of 61% is FAILING in elementary school? Or don't any of you have an education above that level?
Get rid of Rube and his boys and hire a fire chief that understands and will stick up for the fire department and not be a public relations firm.
I'll give Statter a grade of 100% on this one. He passed! Rube and Pete FAILED!
Okay, lots of us are complaining about the way things are in DCFD…so tell us. What would you do if you were Chief? Lets keep it short..say top ten changes you would make.
My #1? Seperate Fire and EMS. FFs should have to become medics if that is not the job they were hired for IMO.
Rubin has managed to ruin the department?
I am sorry but this department was already being classified as the worst Fire/EMS department in the US PRIOR to Chief Rubin. He isn't helping but don't put the blame on him.
Further, the fact that you take the stance that EMS is ruining the fire department IS ruining the department. That is the whole problem. Also, it is Rosenbaum and he was a taxpayer, citizen, and family man who died because FIRE FIGHTERS – EMTS and AMBULANCE EMTS failed to do their job. I am sorry that saving someone's life isn't cool enough but it is reality. The fire department has got to realize that this is where it is these days. Until it does then DCFEMS will not improve.
Hey Pete: do ya miss MCFRS yet?
-WFDT
“Still doesn’t have enough staffers to coordinate rescue services for the city’s some 600,000 some citizens.”
Really? Hmm…the DCFD has a very large workforce with quite enough staffers to coordinate rescue services. In fact, one of the complaints about Chief Rubin by many during his first year is that he was creating too many chiefs positions, but now they don't have enough? The DCFD has a properly sized command staff which coordinates the agency's services and responses very well.
"D.C. Fire & EMS Department is 'woefully unprepared to deal with citizens’ emergencies'"
This is a flat out lie. Just a few months ago a major Metro train wreck occurred, and the DCFD did a terrific job dealing with that emergency. If they were 'woefully unprepared' they would have done a poor job during that event. In fact, the DCFD is very well prepared to deal with both large and small emergencies.
"Rosenbaum…died because FIRE FIGHTERS – EMTS and AMBULANCE EMTS failed to do their job."
Another blatantly untrue statement. The assault is what ultimately led to his passing. The DCFD members transported him to a trauma center, which is the proper thing to do. Once at the hospital he was placed in the hallway on a stretcher and ignored until his condition worsened. The hospital's actions, or should I say lack of actions, contributed to him not being able to survive (if that was possible).
The DCFD members did no harm to the patient, and transported him to an appropriate facility. He did not die due to anything the DCFD members did or failed to do.
Yes, the department was in trouble before Rubin showed up. Yes, Rosenbaum died because some personnel didn't do their jobs.
BUT…..These people weren't doing their jobs and they weren't being SUPERVISED! And NOW Rubin is here and people STILL aren't doing their jobs because they STILL aren't being supervised! Rubin and his camp-followers CAN'T supervise because they AREN'T AT THE JOB! And this was the EXACT problem that led to the Rosenbaum death, problems at major incidents, and problems with personnel management! YOU HAVE TO BE AT WORK IN ORDER TO SUPERVISE! You CAN'T do it from some remote location while giving a lecture to other people about how THEY should be doing THEIR jobs in THEIR department. Especially when your OWN department is in shambles!
THIS is the reason why Rube & Co. are NOW primarily responsible for the ruin of DCFD.
For the 100,000th time. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT didn't kill Mr. Rosenbaum! The thugs that split his wig did. He arrived at a TRAUMA center ALIVE…So who is responsible again? While you are at it give GOD Almighty the big middle finger. I'm sure he had something to do with it also. Idiot!
#1 change in the top ten? Hire a new fire chief based on merit and accomplishments and work ethic and not politcal connections or ability to "schmooze" the suits and ties.
#2 would be to clean house from the top down and get rid of anyone who is not doing the job they were hired to do! You are paid to be AT WORK for a tour of duty and to perform the requirements of your JOB DESCRIPTION. Not roam all over the place, soaking up taxpayers' money to travel and give sage advice. The lower levels should also be reviewed on their job performance and graded accordingly right down to the probie on the floor and the review should be impartial and not political.
#3 should be to have officers who are responsible for their areas and not interfering with other agencies or bureaus. Get your own house in order first.
#4 any new fire chief should have REAL experience in the field and be able to relate to ALL of the jobs below him. This way when he receives a problem from the troops he understands it and can act on it accordingly. Too many fire chiefs today can't pour water out of their boots even when the directions are printed on the bottoms. They have lots of "certs" and NO practical knowledge! Rube, are you reading this?
#5 start treating ALL of the personnel in the department EQUALLY! They are ALL fire department personnel! White, black, yellow, red, green! We look the SAME with our gear on and we do the SAME jobs! Treat us the SAME! Stop the favoritism based on PC stuff!
#6 seperate the FD and EMS and let the people who do the best jobs in each field work in those fields! A lot of FFs don't want and can't really do ambulance work, and a lot of PMs and EMTs don't want and can't really do firefighting work! If you put the GOOD workers in the RIGHT jobs they will SAVE money and make you look good all at the same time! Didn't you learn THAT in some "class"??
#7 BARGAIN IN GOOD FAITH! Not only is this good sound labor management, but IT'S THE LAW! Honor the terms of the FD contract with the bargaining unit and wen management needs to make a change (which they can under law) then negotiate it properly! It's cheaper and better than suits, complaints, and arbitration!
#8 buy some decent equipment! There seems to be enough money and good equipment around to give away to your favorite resort FD, yet not enough to properly have in reserve for when something is broken, worn out or just plain not there!
#9 maintain the fire stations! We have stations that have leaking roofs, insulation falling off pipes, non-funtioning heating plants, bad drinking water pipes, etc. I know you can get things fixed pretty quick down there on Vermont Avenue so how about taking care of the people who take care of this city??
#10 stop screwing around with our retirement and benefits! You got yours, so leave ours alone! If you need to "save money for the budget" then STAY AT WORK and STOP RUNNING AROUND! THAT would save a couple of MILLON $$ right there!
If we were so worried about EMS, why do we let members fail the National Registry up to 9 Times. Not only that but we have a few recruits that have failed the test upwards of 8 times and are still employed. Sure glad I don't live in the City anymore.
#1 Make a conscious decision to support GOOD, EVIDENCE-BASED prehospital MEDICINE. Not, "good response time, everybody's a paramedic" EMS. If it doesn't help patient's outcomes (8 minute ALS response time goal) don't waste department resources trying to do it.
#2 Recognize BLS transport for what it is: neither an emergency nor medicine. Get rid of it, if possible, if not, spend as little of your resources on it as possible. This means the junior guys on busy ambulances.
#3 While your figuring #1 & #2 out, don't forget that Medical Locals don't kill Firefighters. Focus on firefighting: Training, Unit Integrity, Integrity of Command, Standardization of the department.
I'm glad to see that someone tells the TRUTH on here about the Rosenbaum incident. The Firefighters came for what the people on the scene says was "a man down, possibly ETOH". They started to treat same along with the Ambulance crew (All this WITHOUT an X-Ray Machine on the scene!), Transported him to a Trauma Hospital, Transferred care over to DOCTORS & NURSES (People of HIGHER MEDICAL EDUCATION then us, and with BETTER more HIGH Tech Medial Equipment) where he sat in a hallway of this MEDICAL FACILITY for hours then in that same facility for (3)THREE DAYS, till his passing. The Fire & EMS Dept didn't kill this man so stop putting that on us. Like the poster said earlier "the thugs that hit him upside his head did".
Another thing, How can you have an administration in charge of a department that has No Clue of what they are doing! Dave ask them why is there: No Contract for the Members, No Pay Raises, No Disability Retirement, No Equal Treatment and the list goes on and on! Why are they wasting there time to make members with 25+ years on go through EMT when they'll never use the skill (cause most are Techs or Officers) and going to leave within 2-5 years anyway (such a waste of money). They wanted Paramedics on the streets to get ALS on the scene quicker but they just Promoted 37 people that were Firefighter/Medics or just a Medic on fire trucks and medic units to the rank of EMS Captain ALL making over $82,000 a year doing NOTHING but riding around in a SUV wasting gas. How if this is supposed to be 1 department do you by-pass the ranks of Sergeant & Lieutenant & time in grade to a Captain?…… Oh I know, that’s the way Rubin did it! We have an Administration of a Fire Chief that has NEVER sat to take a Promotional Exam (he just applied for ever position he has ever held in his many fire department travels). Then we have an Assistant Chief that just has a High School Diploma! But we have BFC's and DFC's with Masters and Bachelors Degree in Fire Science/Education/Business/Management and so on, but because they're not "yes men" or not in the "click" they don't get picked! Wow!
"Oh ya! While all of you guys are throwing numbers around, especially you Piringer, don't any of you high dollar geniuses realize that a grade of 61% is FAILING in elementary school? Or don't any of you have an education above that level?"
In Baseball you would be the greatest hitter in the history of the game. Afterall, the DC Council gave 600 million dollars for a stadium to seat 10,000 fans from Virginia while the DCFD and MPD go without contracts, raises, and a reduction in benefits.
quote "and family man who died because FIRE FIGHTERS – EMTS and AMBULANCE EMTS failed to do their job."
A man with a pipe caused him to die.
How did the emts fail? They took him to the closest trauma facility, that is our protocol.
Dave you should do a story on Rubin's cowardice.
How could any real fireman leave the most fire catching company in the world for a promotion in another department? (That's right, when Rubin was assigned to 10 Engine, it was absolutely the #1 place to be as a fireman)
Do a story on how this guy never took a promotion exam, and is in his current position because he is a good public speaker.
Chief Rubin, has used D.C. as a resume builder,for Homeland Security, FEMA, National Fire Academy, etc. In the meanwhile fires don't get put out properly (Eastern Market, Georgetown Library, Mt. Pleasant St, Chain Bridge Rd, etc.) The overtime budget Balloons out of control(everyday Medic Units have to be backfilled by OT &/or F/F's because, lack of inside training, hiring,and filling non essential spots). How many unfunded positions ? Discipline is uneven & unfair, ask Capt. Coleman or Simba, or the Guy with the Ankle Bracelet still at work(Former Chief's Son ???) Promotions go to Larry's Friends or former Spec. Ops (ask Senior Capts & Chiefs with education & Seniority, who have been pasted over, but still used daily ,compared to those in position). Look at the back log of Lawsuits from inside & outside of the Dept. And now the City's own IG Office states there are problems & the City's own agency cries fowl…well something is wrong.
Pete, was brought here to LIE, just ask former PIO Mr. Etter.
While I agree with most of this stuff, I would have to disagree with calling him a coward just because he left for career advancement.
Hey Dave ask Rubin (can't call him Chief) what type of experiance he has at running a company? I'll bet he couldn't tell you any good stories about being around the station teaching a rookie how to pull a line, throw ladders or even a prank he might have pulled on a young rookie telling him "to find a hose stretcher" or "find a can of friction loss"!
The Rube has not a clue of what a FIREMAN really is or what a FIREMAN really does. He can't tell you about any fires that he (DIDN'T) put out, nor any rescues he's (n)ever made. He can't even tell you about any firetrucks he's (n)ever driven. How can a person become a Fire Chief and has NEVER EVER been a FIREMAN? Dave ask The Rube (like I said CAN'T call him a real Chief), name 1 just 1 fire he's bottled up on and went in and put out? Training Fires don't count! Ask him to give you the number of the Engine or Truck Company he's ever commanded as a line officer (Sgt, Lt, Capt if he was ever one)riding the front seat and lead the crew into battle or even on a medical local. Ask him has he ever done patient care on an ambulance before? I'll bet all of these answers and more (cause I have alot more questions) are ALL NO!, NONE! or NEVER!
Or he'll lie and make some story up and beat around the bush like he does the City Council and the Citizens of the District of Columbia and ALL those gullable people that pays to hear him run his mouth about things he read in a book.
Ask him and see what he says, Dave. The Citizens want to know things like this about the person who's salary is paid by their Tax Dollars!
How did the emts fail? They took him to the closest trauma facility, that is our protocol.
They failed in multiple ways.
#1 – It is called "assessment." Had they properly assessed Mr. Rosenbaum and realized that he was not "just another drunk," they would (hopefully) have realized he was a head trauma. The term "assessment" appears to be foreign to FEMS employees. Just ask the family of the 39 year old who died in December.
#2 – Your protocols require transport to the closest open trauma facility. Washington Hospital Center was the closest open trauma facility.
#3 – The decision to go to Howard University Hospital was based on the desire to run a personal errand while on duty, as has been well publicized. The crew involved put their own needs in front of the needs of the patient.
It is correct that Mr. Rosenbaum died from injuries inflcited by another individual. However, had FEMS employees and Howard employees done the right thing, he may have had a chance. Nobody will ever know whether he may have survived.