Its been over a year since the problem in the Detroit EMS system was exposed, since that time not much has changed other then some of the workers being suspended, placed on desk jobs or terminated. Now I would like to know when will the Mayor step up and do the right thing?
As children we are taught it is easy to blame someone else for your mistakes, It appear to me this is what the officials in charge of the failed system is doing. When Paramedic Wisam Zeinah and his partner came forward and exposed the problems within the system they were targeted, ridicule and suspended.
Will someone tell the mayor of Detroit, firing the worker's isn't the answer that is needed. The city council had their meeting as to what was going on, and they too wasn't happy about what they learn. The citizens of Detroit complaint about the EMS being slow to respond, people died and the city's only resolution: fired workers.
Detroit Fire commissioner, James Mack was fired. Some could easily say he was a part of the overall problem. For sure he wasn't a part of the solution. Now, two other worker's were fired after a visitor came to Detroit to visit his friend. Per the reports the man became unresponsive. Someone calls 911.
The crew responding was told by dispatch the man was having complication from his diabetic illness, the caller was told by dispatch to give the man sugar and orange juice. When the workers from EMS arrive they realize the man is in cardiac arrest.
The EMT and Paramedic did what they are trained to do, as the medic attempt to drop a ET tube she is met with controversy. The sugar is prohibiting her from successfully putting that tube in place, suctioning the man is attempted. Keep in mind the man's condition. Minutes continue to expire. Her partner is doing compressions.
As a EMT myself, when we received a call...our information is heavily relied upon from what dispatch tell us. Once we are on scene we can determine what really is going on. 9 times out of 10 when we arrive the family is in a panic, waiting on the porch for us and the scene is chaotic. They will tell you to hurry, you grab your bag and go.
Often we have to run back to the truck for other equipment needed if we are not told the right information about the call. I can say for certain I have work with the Medic on that call in the pass, and she know her job. The EMT has been doing this kind of work for 35 years and been a part of Detroit EMS for 8 years.
With that being said, if they didn't know what they were doing....it would not have taken this long for someone to have recognized it. Everyone recognize that there is a PROBLEM in the Detroit EMS system! So why hasn't that been addressed?
If firing is the answer Mr. Bing....then maybe you should be next on the chopping block!
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