Newspaper Spotlights Center’s Bad History

A long investigative article in the Atlanta (Geo.) Journal-Constitution newspaper says five years of dispatcher disciplinary records “reveals instances of insubordination, fighting, sleeping on the job, tardiness and absenteeism.” The problems pre-date an Aug. 2 incident that delayed an EMS response for 25 minutes, ending in the death of a 39 year-old woman. Current dispatchers who talked to reporters–despite orders by management not to–said understaffing forces many dispatchers to work double shifts, creating fatigue and stress. “When you call Fulton 911, you are taking your chances, really,” said former dispatcher Cassandra Eloi. She was terminated last July for repeated rudeness. Dispatchers who are absent without leave are frequently not disciplined, probably because firing them would simply increase the staffing shortage. Read more about the newspaper calls, “Not enough workers, lots of slack” here and here.