D.C. Ambulance Delay

District of Columbia fire officials are investigating why an ambulance took over an hour to arrive at the scene of a patient with dialysis problems who later died. Logging tapes confirm that three 911 calls were placed by the family, that the calltaker entered the incident into CAD, and that a radio dispatcher gave the information to an EMS unit. However, there is silence on the radio logging tape after the dispatch. A D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services spokesperson said, “Apparently, the crew did not hear the dispatch. Clearly, the dispatch was made.” Spokesman Alan Etter told a reporter that, “Corrective measures have been implemented.”