DC Fire and EMS to consolidate

[JPINFV]

D.C. Fire & EMS to Consolidate; Paramedics Will Train in Fire Ops

* David C. Lipscomb

* The Washington Times

* 2008 Apr 11

JEMS.com Editor's Note: Read the December issue of JEMS to learn more about the recommendations for cross-training DC Fire & EMS employees that were made by the Task Force on Emergency Medical Services.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- D.C. officials yesterday announced that D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services will consolidate its uniformed and civilian work forces, the culmination of a 30-year effort to create a unified department.

"The absolute direction the mayor provided—even before I got here—is we've got to become one department," fire department Chief Dennis L. Rubin said. "And probably the only way to do that is to remove the barriers of pay, of retirement, of rank structure."

Under the new model, new employees will be trained as firefighters—including those who intend to work primarily as emergency medical providers.

The city's 230 paramedics and medical technicians over the next two to four weeks will get basic training in all-hazards operations, which involves basic safety measures at emergency scenes, officials said. And roughly 200 firefighters will be trained as medical technicians.

The plan will put the entire force on a single pay scale and make medical providers eligible for the same retirement benefits as firefighters.

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty's proposed fiscal 2009 budget includes $4.9 million to cover pension parity, according to the fire department.

"I think that it's safe to say that it not only will be better for our employees but better for public safety in the District," said Mr. Fenty, a Democrat.

The move comes just over a year after The Washington Times reported that Mr. Fenty was backing off promises he made as mayoral candidate to remove emergency medical service functions from the fire department.

In August 2006, when asked whether he thought the agency should remain under the fire department's administration, the then Ward 4 D.C. Council member said: "The short answer to your question is no."

Early last year, Mr. Fenty said he did not immediately make the change because he was exploring options.

For more than 30 years, city leaders have pursued a plan to integrate the uniformed fire service with the civilian EMS agency. Supporters said firefighters, who are trained as emergency medical technicians, can respond to critical emergencies faster than ambulances can.

The restructuring of the department was one of dozens of recommendations by a fire and EMS task force created as part of a settlement with the family members of slain journalist David Rosenbaum.

The family had sued the city and Howard University for improper care after Mr. Rosenbaum was beaten and robbed near his Northwest home in 2006 but dropped the lawsuit in exchange for the creation of the task force.

The D.C. Fire Department comprises nearly 40 transport units and 33 engine companies and responds to about 127,000 calls a year.

http://www.jems.com/news_and_articles/news...e_OpsStudy.html

Another one bites the dust. As if there wasn't enough reasons to not live in DC.

[Dustdevil]

Not a single valid or even intelligent point in the entire article. Although, I want to be clear and place that blame on the politicians involved, not the journalist.

[Schwaa]

I gotta remember to read before i comment

:roll:

[spenac]

I surrender. I will not fight this crap any longer. Give me a hose, I'm going be a hero too. :oops:

[CBEMT]

So much for Hizzoner the Mayor's campaign pledge to SPLIT the services.

That said, it appears that, while anyone who desires an EMS position will have to go through the fire academy, that will be the last firefighting they ever do if they so choose.

Most of the local paid FDs around here operate in that way. In fact, it's pretty much the only way to get on a 911 unit that sees any significant call volume whatsoever. You can spend your entire fire department career, including officer promotions, on an ambulance. I know lots of people on the EMS side of their departments that haven't touched a hose in 15-20 years. And they almost always make more than their Suppression brethren due to the overtime availability.

[Dustdevil]

That said, it appears that, while anyone who desires an EMS position will have to go through the fire academy, that will be the last firefighting they ever do if they so choose.

Yep. So really, nothing changes at all. What positive results have they achieved? Let's see:

• 1. Relieved the shortage? Nope. Now less medics will be eligible for hire, not more.

2. Improved medical quality? Nope. Nothing in this addresses quality (or quantity either).

3. Improved response times? Nope. This doesn't add ambulances or medics.

4. Improved medic benefits? Sure, but not in any way that could not have been achieved much less expensively without cross-training. I mean, if you want to give medics more benefits, just do it! What's stopping you?

5. Lowered costs? Hardly. Now they're paying more and spending more on [pointless fire] training and administration than ever.

• So what earthshaking revelation was presented to the mayor that convinced him to do a 180-degree about-face on this issue? What outstanding benefit did he see to this nonsense that the rest of us are missing? I have a feeling this all comes down to politics and payola, because it certainly has no basis in sound policy. Some union simply convinced the mayor that he could get more re-election votes by combining than by separating, and that's the bottom line.

And WTF is with all this "civilian" shyte? Why is a medic who is not a firemonkey a "civilian", as if they are some kind of second-class citizen? Is a cop a "civilian" because he is not a firemonkey? What if we start referring to firemonkeys as "civilians" if they aren't degreed paramedics?

[JPINFV]

And WTF is with all this "civilian" shyte? Why is a medic who is not a firemonkey a "civilian", as if they are some kind of second-class citizen? Is a cop a "civilian" because he is not a firemonkey? What if we start referring to firemonkeys as "civilians" if they aren't degreed paramedics?

I think you're reading a bit too far into it. From what I got from reading it was uniformed employees were operations and training departments whereas civilian was support services (billing, maintenance, etc). Personally, I see no real need for a distinction. You can have all of the response crews you want, but they aren't going anyplace with out the support crews that makes sure their equipment is working properly. It would be like the military telling their logistics people that they aren't in the real military since, under traditional doctrine (front lines vs rear area distinction), they're not supposed to be fighting).

[FormerEMSLT297]

If there is one thing that is good about this,,,,,, The medics and EMS personnel seem to be getting a raise and will be on par with the HEROES. I still think 3rd service would have been the way to go,, but Like RUDY, in NYC, Adrian caved to the IAFF, and other labor unions that appear to have gotten to him. One more feather in the cap for FF's.

I'll speak to some of my friends there and see if this move really affects change.

Though I Highly doubt it.