The publication of the final report and recommendations of the Task Force on EMS represented a pivotal period in the history of the Department’s delivery of EMS.  Implementation of the task force recommendations has been an iterative process over the course of many years, with changes in approach occurring as administrations changed.  Overall, the quality of the Department’s EMS services has measurably improved since 2008, thanks to the vision of the task force and the hard work of many people throughout the Department, as well as other community stakeholders.  The final updates on recommendations incorporated on this page reflect implementation as of September 2018, eleven years after publication of the task force’s final report. After that date, for updated information on the Department’s work in EMS, please go to: https://fems.dc.gov/page/ems-move

EMS Task Force: A History

As part of the settlement agreement with the family of New York Times journalist David E. Rosenbaum, in 2007, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty created a task force on emergency medical services (EMS). The task force conducted an investigation and issued a report with recommendations for improving the delivery of EMS by the DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services (FEMS) Department.  The task force met from April 2007 through September 2007 and issued its final report and recommendations in September 2007.  This page summarizes the work of the Task Force during those months.

Mission Statement

The Task Force had the following mission statement: The Task Force on Emergency Medical Services will examine the system-wide delivery of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in the District of Columbia. It will give practical, timely, and strategic guidance on how to improve this critical service. The task force will focus on how the District can improve the management, training, operations and culture of the EMS function to provide the highest quality of professional and compassionate pre-hospital medical care. The task force will conclude its work by submitting a targeted set of recommendations and an implementation plan with input, process, and output metrics, to the Mayor and DC Council.

Scheduled Meeting: April 17, 2007

Task Force Kickoff Meeting

EMS task force was held in the Mayor’s Press Briefing Room, Room G-9 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. The schedule is subject to change upon the agreement of EMS Task Force members.

Related Documents:

• April 17, 2007, 3 pm: Task Force Kickoff Meeting
• Meeting Minutes
• Inspector General Charles Willoughby
• FEMS Medical Director Dr. Michael Williams
• Kenneth Lyons, EMT-P, president AFGE Local 3721
• Dr. Lori Moore Merrell/Fire Chief Gary Ludwig, Memphis, on behalf of Dan Dugan, president IAFF Local 36
• Timeline History of EMS
• JEMS 200 City Survey Summary
• Matrix of Findings and Recommendations From Four Prior EMS Reports

Scheduled Meeting May 24, 2007

The second task force meeting was held Thursday, May 24, 2007, in the Mayor’s Press Briefing Room, Room G-9 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

Related Documents:

• EMS Best Practices Research, Amy Mauro, Office of the City Administrator
• EMS Path Forward, Chief Dennis Rubin, DC FEMS; Medical Director Dr. Michael Williams, DC FEMS
• Paul Maniscalco, MPA, EMT/P; chair, DC EMS Commission
• Anne Renshaw
• George Clark
• Daniel Wolkoff
• Justin Brown
• EMT/Advanced Chinua Walker

Scheduled Meeting June 18, 2007

The third task force meeting was held Monday, June 18, 2007, in the Mayor’s Press Briefing Room, Room G-9 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

Related Documents:

• Robert Malson, president, DC Hospital Association
• DC Hospital Association Utilization Indicators for 2006
• Bruce Siegel, MD, MPH, RAND presentation: Assessing the State of Emergency Care in Washington DC

Scheduled Meeting: July 17, 2007

The fourth task force meeting was held Tuesday, July 17, 2007, in the Mayor’s Press Briefing Room, Room G-9 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

Working Session September 4, 2007

Related Documents:

• Working Session Agenda
• Presentation: Boston Emergency Medical Services, by Richard Serino, Chief, Boston EMS

Scheduled Meeting: September 20, 2007

Related Documents:

• Meeting Agenda
• Task Force on Emergency Medical Services Issues Final Report

 

Related Content: 

Task Force on Emergency Medical Services Issues Final Report

EMS Task Force - Recommendations