D.C. Fire & EMS could outsource lower-priority transports to a third-party ambulance service under a new proposal.
Under its present system, the D.C. Fire & EMS (FEMS) system is under significant strain as early as 9 a.m. daily, and is struggling to meet all calls for ambulances, Chief Gregory Dean said at a D.C. Council meeting Tuesday.
The department has come under criticism in recent years for delays in response times and other problems.
Dean rolled out several proposed reforms at Tuesday's meeting, including the third-party ambulance proposal. Under that plan, FEMS crews would still be the first responders on all 911 calls, but private ambulances would transport low-priority patients.
FEMS would assess patients to determine when to request a third-party transport, but would still transport those with critical injuries or illnesses, such as cardiac arrest, stroke or major trauma.
Third-party ambulances would take patients with concerns such as cold symptoms, twisted ankles or minor cuts.
Right now, nearly 70 percent of calls are classified as "basic life support," or non-life-threatening cases, according to a report prepared by Dean. Those ambulances have an EMT on board but no paramedic. Another 23 percent of calls are for the more serious "advanced life support," according to the report. More than 10 percent of calls don't require transport.
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There's been a notable spike in calls to FEMS in recent years, with the department getting more than 500 calls a day, according to Dean's report. The increase has resulted in delays; Dean said the average ambulance response time has been as long as 17 minutes.
At Tuesday's Council meeting, Mayor Muriel Bowser said she's concerned about the city being sued over the delays.
Dean's report also outlines other proposed reforms, which would include crew education and training, and vehicle maintenance and repair. Dean's report calls current vehicle maintenance "non existent." New monthly EMS training sessions would begin in early 2016.
The D.C. Council will vote on the proposal next month.
