Dr. James Augustine has announced his resignation as medical director for the DC Fire & EMS Department after 17-months working for the department. Dr. Augustine is citing health and wellness reasons for his departure. Sources tell STATter911.com the climate in the DC area is not beneficial to a medical condition afflicting Dr. Augustine.
James Augustine was hand picked by Chief Dennis Rubin. The men worked together closely when Rubin was fire chief in Atlanta, Georgia.
In a press release announcing the departure, Chief Dennis Rubin is quoted as saying, “The citizens of the District have directly benefited from the work of Dr. Augustine. Our world class EMS system is testimony to his leadership and innovation. He is the real deal. He will be missed.”
Augustine joined the department in July, 2008 and became acting director a month later when Dr. Michael Williams suddenly resigned. Dr. Augustine was officially confirmed by the City Council one-year-ago.
The resignation of Dr. Augustine is another set back for Chief Rubin’s efforts to change the culture of EMS in the District of Columbia. Two weeks ago, the EMS training director and administrator were let go by Dr. Augustine. This is at least the third change in leadership in EMS training since Chief Rubin took over the department in April, 2007.
According to the press release, Chief Rubin believes that Augustine “has formed a lasting foundation for which we can build our future course”. Dr. Augustine is expected to leave at the end of the year.
Read DC Fire & EMS Department press release and background on Dr. Augustine
Also on STATter911 …
- Quick Takes – December 10, 2009
- Children’s Hospital doctor blasts DC Fire & EMS Department over death of child. Calls lack of transport ‘inexcusable’. Refers to case as a ‘pediatric Rosenbaum’. – March 9, 2010
- The fire chief’s deposition. Dennis Rubin responds to questions from the lawyer for the DC Fire & EMS Department’s former legal counsel. – December 3, 2009
- Critically burned firefighter did not get the same consideration as soon to retire deputy chief. Still no explanation on who made deal to let Florida fire chief remain on the rolls of the DC Fire & EMS Department. – December 15, 2009
How many chances are these people going to get to fix a broken EMS system before the city comes to its senses and separates Fire and EMS.
Another one is gone! How many Med Directors have been in this position in the last six years? Too Many is the short answer. This system doesn’t work and seems to take down everyone that touches it. Separate EMS from Fire and allow each branch to become experts in their respective fields, instead of Jack of All Trades and Masters of NONE!
Sorry to see Augustine go he was prety good compared to the others that have held that post. I am willing to bet that Arron has a hand picked replacement already in the wings…Stay tuned folks its sure to just get rougher as we drift along in this rudderless ship…
I have to agree with DCFF. As a DC fireman…Five OMD’s in six years? The system is broken but rather than admit that the plan doesn’t work and start over from scratch, our leadership continues down this path of failure. The DCFD has butchered EMS for 20 years and countless people have suffered. Hey Chief, hire EMS only professionals for EMS and leave the fires/first response to the fireman.
I’ll bet there was some friction between the actual licensed physician (Dr. Augustine) and the wannabe physician (AFC-EMS Rafael Sa’adah) and the uniformed man with the agenda won out over the medical expertise.
Eventually the world will figure out that Sa’adah’s plan for Paramedic Engine companies does nothing for the public, and less than nothing for the Fire Department.
Dave there is a bigger question. If he has allergies, then why leave now? He has been here for over a year and even bought a house in the city. Now he has allergies? Man, my allergies are very troublesome in Dec. Does this have something to do with the firing of Julie Chase who clammed hostile work environment towards him? Dr. Augustine was never in the city anyway.
Next is the AFC-EMS Sa’adah. Limited experience and is in the middle of a multi-million dollar law suit. This is asking for trouble.
Thanks to the guys taking care of business on the street.
WOW! sad to see Dr. Augustine go. DCFD obviously has some strife with the addition of EMS as a responsibility. However, this is what Fire Departments respond to over 80 percent of the time. Sounds like some of the “dinosaurs” in the department need to get with the program and stop resisting change. Instead, embrace it and see what they can do to improve it… It also appears the current EMS leadership needs to be more accountable and Dr. Augustine and Chief Rubin need to ensure that the next leaders are there for the long haul…
Allergies in Dec.? Dr. Augustine even bought a house in the city and now he is leaving? Dave does this have anything to do with the firing of Julie Chase who clammed hostile work environment towards him?
The next question is the AFC-EMS Rafael Sa’adah. Here is a guy in the middle of a multi-million dollar lawsuit. No experience in the field and now has designed a broken system. How much longer????
Sorry to see Dr. Augustine leave he has done a great job and will be surely missed good luck doc……
The issue is not whether EMS should be provided by the Fire Department. It should. Unfortunately, like most boneheads, someone equates this with meaning that an engine should respond on any emergency medical call. The district needs more ambulances and Squad 51 type response vehicles. When engines are used, they should be used for calls where someone is unconscious, cardiac arrests, rescues, multiple casualty incidents, and when the third due unit is being dispatched. This garbage of using an engine on every medical call is ridiculous.
Running an engine company this much does nothing to help the perception. The cost alone can bankrupt the department. The liability of running an engine when a smaller unit would suffice seems to be forgotten. Another aspect is that if you are rotating a paramedic off of a busy medic unit to be on an engine to give them a break, how does this help if the engine is running just as many or more EMS calls than the medic unit? Paramedic engine companies add nothing to the equation. Use the personnel properly and great results will occur. Unfortunately, Rubin is not an EMS provider. All Sa’adah knows it what he has read somewhere and his limited knowledge in the district.
The issue is not whether the fire department can provide EMS. It can. It just needs adequate leadership. Where is the leadership in this situation? There is no reason that the District cannot be a leader, but with weak leadership, the mission is doomed.
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