IG report confirms DC did not have sick-out last New Year’s Eve. Blames management on department’s staffing issues.

Dec 21, 2013

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DC News FOX 5 DC WTTG

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Read entire IG report

In the video above WTTG-TV/Fox 5 reporter Paul Wagner describes a DC Inspector General's report titled "FEMS fails to address critical staffing shortages" that was released Friday afternoon. It looks into the serious staffing problems that continue to plague DC Fire & EMS Department. The IG blames management for the shortages, including last New Year's Eve when some tried to blame a high number of absences on a sick-out. Here's what is in the executive summary about New Year's Eve:

FEMS took almost one-third of its transport units out of service on New Year's Eve due to staffing shortages that senior officers failed to address adequately, resulting in delayed medical care for citizens. Officers did not:
• realize that overtime restrictions did not apply to the pay period covering New Year's Eve;
• timely alert senior officers to the impending staffing shortage;
• analyze staffing and absence data beforehand to develop a contingency plan; and
• contact all members to request volunteers for overtime on New Year's Eve.
Having 12 transport units out of service delayed medical assistance to citizens. The team reviewed incidents involving transport unit delays for a cardiac arrest patient, a shooting victim, and a stabbing victim.