Comments on: DC Police conducting review of paramedic who provided care to dying two-year-old girl. Homicide detectives will try determine if the EMS worker was criminally negligent.

By: exray

exray — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:31:23 +0000

you know anonymous, i like some of the the things you have said. Given that by the way im an officer in this department and i would admit there are areas that need improvement just like any other department or job. But for those of you who complain of D-O-I-N-G Y=O=U=R J-O-B (RIDING THE AMBULANCE) I say please leave the job.Stop waisting the citizens time and putting them at risk because your heart isnt in it to do the job you are payed to do. I get tired of hearing firefighters talk about other members like calling them (loads) when it comes to work regarding F/FING. Well what does that make you if you dont want to do all the aspects of your job(EMS care).In closing do your job like its suppose to be done, respect the citizens of this great city and if you dont like it here(riding the ambulance) please leave go back where you came from I know plenty of people that would love to come on namely my sons and serve the citizens by any means necessary

By: Sick and Tired

Sick and Tired — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:01:45 +0000

CBEMT – you got it right! The “civilian” and “single-role” titles have allowed the agency (headed by men, who until recently, were not even EMT certified!) to marginalize and demoralize the entire group of people who CHOSE to provide EMS to the citizens of D.C. That’s right, I said “chose” because that was their choice. If they had wanted to become “dual-role” or “cross-trained,” they would have signed on for that years ago when it became an option. They didn’t because that was not what they wanted to do and it cost them loads! It cost them money, because “dual-role” firefighter/EMTs and FF/paramedics make more and it cost some of them their dignity as they have been shunted aside and treated like second-class citizens by firefighters who are still wet behind the ears. And as much as everyone (firefighters) wants to decry what Chief Thompson said, he was right. But it’s not just the racial bigotry, it is also the “I hate the gut bucket” or “sh*t box” mentality that makes single-role providers feel as though they and their chosen profession are less worthy.

Classic “Pavlov’s dog” response. Tell me day in and day out that my job stinks and I will begin to do a stinky job at it.

By: CBEMT

CBEMT — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:52:46 +0000

The medic is a SHE. Not a HE. And she is a singlr role ems only provider. 3rd service looking better and better each day.

There’s a difference between a dingle-role provider and a single-role provider under the control of a fire department that cares about her job so much that she’s considered a civilian.

By: CBEMT

CBEMT — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:47:19 +0000

b.Despite all this talk and today’s Post article re culture differences, the mistake on this ped was made by a mediocre at best civilian hire with an EMS career tract. Can you imagine the outcry the Local and the anti-fire based EMS cadre would have been against a paramedic-firefighter on an engine co.

Do you see any of us defending him/her/them?

I’m willing to bet a HUGE part of the problem IS that “civilian” designation by the Fire Department, as if the EMS providers were no better than bystanders. I can only imagine how they’re treated in the firehouses. FDNY*EMS aren’t treated much better, but at least nobody calls them civilians.

c. That being said, the public health service which is what the DCFD has primarily become is more difficult than ever and mistake will ALWAYS happen

Which brings us to the issue of what a FIRE Department knows about PUBLIC HEALTH anyway.

By: No More Medics

No More Medics — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:59:46 +0000

Chief Thompson, you say that white firefighters with generational ties to the department are the problem? Did any white firefighters kill rosenbaum? what about the 2 year old in 33′s area? I dont think so.

By: Stuart

Stuart — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:12:00 +0000

The medic is at fault for no acting properly. However, the system is at fault where something like this can happen again and again. There is obviously a total lack of control. How do people get away with not completing refusals or any ticket on runs? There should be controls in place to monitor what is happening on these calls.

It isn’t a police matter but malpractice.

A 3rd service would be a good direction at this point, but start fresh. Louisville “de-merged” Fire and EMS a couple years ago. It wasn’t perfect but they could use that as an example. It is run by a doctor now and uses evidence based policies. Begin with a sense of pride and professionalism where the standards are set from the beginning, strong QA and leadership.

By: Jon Botwin DC F/F Medic

Jon Botwin DC F/F Medic — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:51:36 +0000

We should all step back and look at the reality of the situation. It all comes down to RESPONSIBILITY. That being said, PERSONAL responsibility and FIRE DEPT. responsibility are the issues here.
May the first person with out fault cast the first stone. We have all had our lack of better judgements. In this case a grave one resulted in a terrible situation. YES this medic should have done alot of things. I am sure if she had the chance she would do things dramaticly different.
FIRE DEPT responsibility: before this situation happened. why was there no quality control in place with review of personal actions and protocol compliance. I can atest that there is NO regular QA. Where has the continued education been, especially PEDIACTRICS before and AFTER THIS INCIDENT. There hasn’t been any dept case review, education of best practices, or memo on compliance of protocols pasted down to it’s members
In the end we need not let this little girls death be a blame game. We need to use her and educate ourselves for our own responsibility, use it to put in place Fire Dept responsibility and teach everyone not to make the same mistakes. Allowing us to point a finger without pointing one back at oursleves would do a great diservice to Stephanie and all the other Stephanies that have occured in every other EMS jurisidiction. Let her be the voice in all of our heads to ALWAYS do what’s right for the patient.

Words to live by a great Lt.
First time is a mistake, Second time is just stupid, Third time just isn’t going to happen.

By: T-Bone

T-Bone — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:19:23 +0000

Anonymous said “If the medic won’t transport, the EMT has their own license, they need to point out the poor care and act on it! If they can’t (medic overrules, has dept policy against this, etc), then the EMT should write a run report of how things were from their perspective and how they attempted to transport/provide care, etc.”

Great point. We’ve all had our run-ins with piss poor providers. The best thing to keep yourself out of a mess is to always do the right thing by following protocals/SOP’s, documenting and reporting incidents to a supervisor. Unfortunately, I have to document things way to often during ambulance time.

By: SkidMarks(in my skivies)

SkidMarks(in my skivies) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:13:17 +0000

What is third service going to accomplish if you seperate the same employess, with the same attitudes, with the same work ethic, the same half-a$$ed approach to patient care, lead by the same supervisors, trained by the same people, under the same governmental leadership going to accomplish?

Criminal investigation??? How about dog and pony show for the same reasons Truth mentions. Is the approach the dept. is now taking “do your job or get arrested”? That will certainly boost morale and “internal customer” attitudes. We’ll become a “you call, we hall, that’s all” organization. Where’s the quality care in that?

Dennis Ruben is the best Fire Chief? What has he actually accomplished since he’s been here? Has the quality of ems care become better? Obviously not. His ems chief can’t even tell the difference between a gunshotwound to the head and one to the torso. What should you expect from those under him? He’s been ordered to rehire employees fired under his administration. He even threw one of his AFCs under the bus at a council hearing. There’s been more scandal under him then any other chief and it all seems to center around him. Oh…wait a minute…we have double the amount of DFCs now then under any other chief. Gee…how did we ever manage without them? He’s a career fire chief. Never stays in one place long. I wonder why?

I won’t even begin to discuss Kenny Lyons.

Maybe it’s time for the city council(not the fire chief)to form a Q/A committee.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:27:54 +0000

What does HOOKMAN, Attorney at law, have to say?