Jan 3, 2008 9:00 pm US/Eastern
Officials Discuss City's EMS Response System
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Problems with Philadelphia's emergency response system, that may have cost a Northeast Philadelphia woman her life, could be more widespread.
An exclusive
CBS 3 I-Team investigation revealed major delays in getting help that could have saved her life.
CBS 3's Walt Hunter has details on how officials believe the situation may expose serious issues with the system.
Deborah Payne, 55, died early New Year's morning. An Advanced Life Support unit did not arrive until nearly two hours after her first 911 call.
A less well-equipped basic unit, sent in its place, broke down outside Payne's building.
Payne died inside the rescue van, without ever reaching the hospital.
City Controller Alan Butkovitz, who recently released an audit detailing EMS shortages, wants to know why units assigned to less serious calls were not redirected to help the dying woman.
"Just because you are in the city of Philadelphia, you can't get to a hospital in time to have the interventions that are effective, it's scandalous," Butkovitz said.
Because New Year's Eve is the busiest night for EMS, city officials said they added five units, but they provided only basic, not advanced life support.
Fire Union President Brian McBride said it is likely Ms. Payne was just one of many who didn't get immediate response from medics when they dialed 911.
"I wonder if the murder rate is as bad as the EMS rate is, the failure of medic units to get there on time," McBride said.
Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers said in a phone interview: "It's a tragedy. An hour (for the basic unit to arrive) is just not good. You don't want these kinds of things to happen."
CBS3.com's Most Popular Pages:
Slideshow:
Iowa Caucus 2008
Slideshow: CBS 3 Employee New Year's ResolutionsSlideshow:
Great Holiday Movies Slideshow:
Classic Holiday Tunes From The 80's Slideshow:
2007 Looking Back At The Weird Slideshow:
2007 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Slideshow:
2007 Celebrity DeathsSlideshow:
Openly Gay Celebrities Slideshow:
'90s TV Stars Then & NowSlideshow:
Useless Body PartsSlideshow:
When Not To Hyphenate Your Name
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
