Comments on: DC’s medical director announces his departure. Dr. James Augustine cites health reasons for his resignation.

By: D.C. Fire Chief Dennis Rubin Deposition Video Showcases Questionable Statements, Behavior « EHS & Safety News America

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:24:30 +0000

[...] DC’s medical director announces his departure. Dr. James Augustine cites health reasons for his re… – December 1, 2009 [...]

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:51:08 +0000

To Outside Observer-
Stay Out

By: Homer

Homer — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:08:32 +0000

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.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:07:46 +0000

Sorry to see Dr. Augustine leave he has done a great job and will be surely missed good luck doc……

By: Dave we need answers.

Dave we need answers. — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:25:11 +0000

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????

By: Outside observer

Outside observer — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:18:29 +0000

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…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:18:04 +0000

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.

By: Yet Another DCFF

Yet Another DCFF — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:40:50 +0000

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.

By: Another DCFF

Another DCFF — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:50:04 +0000

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.

By: DCFF Waiting for Leadership

DCFF Waiting for Leadership — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:02:57 +0000

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…