D.C. Fire and EMS Memos Say Compatibility Issues with AMR Ambulances Causing Delays

The private ambulance service that started this week to speed up emergency response times in the District actually may be slowing them down.

The city’s contract with American Medical Response (AMR) began Monday. AMR is supposed to respond to non-life-threatening 911 calls from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

News4’s Mark Segraves obtained internal memos from the D.C. Fire and EMS Department that highlight compatibility issues between city units and AMR, creating delays in the transportation of patients.

AMR computers and D.C. fire computers do not speak to one another, so patient information cannot be transferred electronically. As a result, D.C. firefighters and EMS personnel must remain on a scene and transfer information by hand on paper forms.

AMR units are not allowed to be used for any life-threatening calls, even if no D.C. ambulance is available. A cardiac arrest patient had to wait 28 minutes for a D.C. ambulance though an AMR ambulance was nearby.

Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. FEMS Chief Gregory Dean said the AMR service will help reduce delayed 911 responses and give D.C. firefighters and paramedics more time for training.