AMR hiring for DC ambulance service – Former medical director to testify at hearing
Dr. Jullette Sassy, the former assistant chief/medical director for the DC Fire and EMS Department, who wrote a brutal resignation letter, is scheduled to testify tomorrow (Wednesday) before the DC City Council. Last Thursday, Dr. Saussy appeared on the Kojo Nnamdi show on WAMU-FM (see below) and expanded on some of her issues with the department’s direction on EMS. (Read Dr. Saussy’s letter here.)
Dr. Saussy is one of a number of witnesses who will appear before the Committee on the Judiciary, chaired by Council member Kenyan McDuffie. It is scheduled to start around 12:15 p.m. Chief Gregory Dean is expected to be the final witness.
In other DC news, AMR is hiring EMTs and other positions to prepare to take over some lower priority transports in the Nation’s Capital. AMR is paying 20.41 per hour and is expected to start handling calls as early as next month.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced a contract with the company American Medical Response (AMR) on Tuesday, calling it an important step in EMS reform.
AMR will soon begin responding to non-life-threatening 911 calls from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m., seven days per week. The third-party company will transport patients with minor injuries or illnesses, such as colds, sprained ankles and “general non acute sick calls,” said a release from Bowser on Tuesday.
“This agreement will supplement our resources so that FEMS can most effectively deliver on its mission — responding to medical emergencies, and saving lives,” Bowser said in a release.
D.C. Fire & EMS (FEMS) will continue to transport patients with life-threatening or time-sensitive conditions, such as cardiac arrest, stroke, major trauma and unconsciousness.
Bowser and D.C. FEMS Chief Gregory Dean say the service will help reduce delayed 911 responses and give D.C. firefighters and paramedics more time for much-needed training.
