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Jasper W. Sterling, Benefits Coordinator, AFGE Local 3721

Today recruit class 336 will graduate from the DC Fire and EMS (DCFEMS) training academy. This momentous occasion will take place at 11:00 a.m. on the grounds of the DCFEMS training academy, located at 6400 Shepard Pkwy S.W. Washington D.C.

This will be a historic event for DCFEMS. The recruits of Class 336 were hired under a job announcement for Firefighter-EMT or Firefighter-Paramedic. This is a historical event in that the recruits of Class 336 DID NOT receive the required training, needed to receive the certification of EMT-Basic in the District of Columbia. Without DC certification as an EMT-Basic, how are they allowed to hold the position of Firefighter-EMT? If they are not Firefighter-EMTs, what exactly are they? All firefighter hired by DCFEMS after 1989, were and are required to obtain and maintain the certification of EMT-Basic in District of Columbia, as a condition of employment.

This action is but another attempt at reducing the level of patient care rendered by this Agency. Chief of EMS and Fire, Adrian Thompson is illustrating yet again, as to why he (A firefighter by profession), should not be allowed to continue to destroy this Agency. He is also providing validation to the proposed separation of EMS from the fire service. He proves that making medical decisions are best left to medical personnel, such as the Medical Director. Bill B15-837 (DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ESTABLISHMENT ACT OF 2004) would do just that.

On Sunday August 8, 2004 the Chief of EMS and Fire will also convert four ambulances staffed by EMS EMTs to firefighter staffed ambulances. Most if not all of the selected firefighters have received the 2002 protocol training, but none of them have had their in-field evaluations. A special evaluation unit is being initiated to ensure that all 32 of these Firefighter-EMTs will be "evaluated". The in-field evaluations will start on 8/1/04 and go through 8/7/04. On 8/8/04 these Firefighter-EMTs will be riding an ambulance with another Firefighter-EMT with the same two days of experience as they have. The saying "The blind leading the blind" comes to mind. I would feel better about these "evaluation", if they were completed before the members were selected for assignment to the ambulances. Now that the firefighters are selected for assignment to the ambulances, they will ride the ambulances, "evaluated" or not.


Will the members of recruit classes 336 and 337 (another class still at the training academy, that also skipped the EMT training), ever receive the required training for EMT-Basic? What pay scale will these firefighters be paid by? Surely they cannot receive extra monies for providing the services of an EMT, if they are not certified as EMTs, can they? This change to the recruit training policy creates the appearance impropriety. The Chief of EMS and Fire will continue these policies unless Council Member Kathleen Patterson, Chair of the Committee on the Judiciary stops him. Unfortunately she proved her concern for this service on 7/20/04, by her lack of attendance at the forum on DCFEMS services in upper northwest. This event was Co-sponsored by ANCs 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F, 3/4G. Council Members Adrian Fenty (Ward 4), Harold Brazil (At-Large), and Phil Mendelson (At-Large) were in attendance. Where was Council Member Patterson? The forum was held in her ward, dealing with issues concerning her ward, and sponsored almost entirely by the ANCs of her ward. Where was Council Member Patterson?

Robert C. Bobb, City Administrator also declined an invitation to participate in this forum. But he also publicly admitted to officially supporting a fire based EMS system, even though he had not read all of the studies done by the City prior to his arrival (June 2,2004 EMS Operation and Management Hearing). This was not the smartest admission to make, and proves that the City's decision to keep a fire based EMS system, is not an informed decision.

Mr. Herbert Tillery, Deputy Mayor / Interim Director, DC DOH, wake up and step to the plate sir. Your agency is the agency that's supposed to provide oversight on the delivery of healthcare in the District. I know your just coming onboard, but you need to catch up. You know of and about Chief Thompson and his lack of commitment to providing quality pre-hospital healthcare (I have informed you of this personally). The year of unusable data collected on the 1+1 Pilot Program is a perfect example. We did not have the CQI personnel to provide appropriate oversight on the 1+1 program, but we have the CQI personnel to establish a new unit to evaluate the Firefighter-EMTs that will go on the ambulance units on 8/8/04. A years worth of increased liability for the City, and what do they have to show for it? All I've seen are extensions to continue the program to try to collect the appropriate data.

Mayor Williams I know you're use to dealing with numbers and figures. As the Mayor you're also responsible for the lives of the citizens and visitors to the District of Columbia. As the former CFO for the City, I'm sure you have heard the phrase "If you buy cheap stuff, you get cheap stuff". When looking at ways to save a persons life or provide the best appropriate healthcare to a patient, CHEAPER ISN'T ALWAYS BETTER!!! Moreover you pay more for an inferior service, when you recommend a dual-role service.

I hope that all of you will step to the plate on this issue as you have for other issues. I implore you to stop this firefighter (Chief of EMS and Fire, Adrian Thompson), from making a mockery of our EMS system. Firefighter-EMTs have to be trained as both firefighters and EMTs, before they graduate from the academy. No exceptions or exclusions can be tolerated.

This document prepared by Jasper W. Sterling, Benefits Coordinator, AFGE Local 3721, at the request of Kenneth Lyons, President, AFGE Local 3721. As President Lyons is currently unavailable to discuss these issues, he has requested that all inquiries are directed to myself. I can be reached for comments at (703) 203-1366.