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Commentary: the State of EMS in D.C.
Erik S. Gaull of the advisory board for EMS Magazine took time Friday to speak with EMSResponder.com about the latest news regarding EMS in the nation's capital.
Numerous headlines have pointed toward serious trouble in the city's combined Fire/EMS department. Most recently, it was announced that the latest medical director has resigned - the third to do so in four years. Also this week, it was announced that a top mayoral candidate for the city is calling for the separation of fire and EMS, to try to solve problems in the combined department.
Also over the past year, the department has received criticism for considering a lapse in EMT certification to solve a budget shortfall, and for a troubled EMS response to New York Times reporter David Rosenbaum, who was attacked in the city last January and later died.
Gaull, who has been heavily involved in EMS and public safety issues in the area as a consultant, educator, and service provider, shared his take on the situation and how he hopes to contribute to public safety improvement in the city personally by running for the Ward 3 seat on the D.C. Council.
Gaull said the state of EMS in the capital is truly as troubled as the headlines indicate. "In D.C., the EMS system is on life support," he said.
He believes the turnover in medical directors is a serious issue because it creates a lack of leadership and oversight. Medical directors have come to the city with good intentions, he said, but appear to leave because they get frustrated trying to work within the current framework. "This is extremely problematic for the system as a whole, and for the responders who work within the system," Gaull said.
Gaull said the department's problems are reflected by the current calls to separate Fire and EMS. The calls come from mayoral candidate Adrian M. Fenty, and from another candidate for city council, Gaull said.
He believes the city should give the combined department more time to work, but that if the department doesn't demonstrate change and improvement in handling EMS, separation is something that should be discussed.
"I think if we don't see real change coming out of the Fire and EMS Department --demonstrating that they have a different attitude about EMS, demonstrating that they have a real commitment toward patient-centric care -- that we ought to get rid of the leadership of the fire department, bifurcate the systems and make EMS a stand alone system," he said.
To hear more about Gaull's view on EMS in D.C., and how he hopes to contribute to improving the system, listen to his podcast interview with EMSResponder.com.
To learn more about Gaull's run for the Ward 3 seat on the D.C. Council, visit www.gaull2006.com/.
