Emergency Medical Services Task Force Presents Recommendations to Fenty

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Task Force on Emergency Services presented its recommendations to Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and the District of Columbia at the group’s final meeting.  The Task Force was created as part of the District’s settlement with the family of David Rosenbaum, a journalist who was tragically slain after being assaulted on January 6, 2006, in the District of Columbia. As part of the agenda for the final meeting, the task force also worked on its final report, which will be issued at a later date.

“The EMS Task Force has worked diligently to research best practices and identify the barriers that keep Fire and EMS from being the best in the nation,” said Mayor Fenty. “I applaud the thorough work of this task force in taking on a tremendous challenge and giving us the recommendations to reform and improve our emergency response agency.”

The task force made two major recommendations to address the structure, culture and capabilities of the city's Fire and Emergency Medical Services (FEMS).  To elevate and strengthen the EMS mission within the agency, the task force recommended a major reform of the organizational structure of FEMS to improve services for those who call on FEMS for assistance.  More than 75 percent of 911 calls to FEMS are for medical assistance.  Recommended changes to the structure include a well-resourced Medical Director and Assistant Chief for EMS as well as enhanced field supervision of EMS providers.

The task force also has recommended to the Mayor that FEMS become a fully integrated, all-hazards agency.  All-hazards agency personnel will be required to have minimum qualifications in basic levels of emergency medical services, fire prevention, fire suppression, hazardous materials and technical rescue.  Implementation of this recommendation will result in uniform standards for all agency personnel as well as equal pay and benefits, eliminatin