OSWEGO, NY – The New York State Department of Health Bureau of Emergency Medical Services has concluded its investigation of the Oswego Fire Department involving incidents which occurred in 2009.
The results of this investigation determined that 38 EMS providers failed to complete pre-hospital care reports on 178 occasions.
Also, the Oswego Fire Department failed to maintain a treatment management record for patients who received advanced life support services on numerous occasions.
The Oswego Fire Department has acknowledged these violations and a settlement has been tentatively reached pending Common Council approval at its Sept. 13 meeting, according to Fire Chief Jeff McCrobie.
The Stipulation and Order mandates the city pay a $10,000 fine for the violations set forth.
The city shall pay $2,000 of that sum within 30 days of the effective date of this Stipulation and Order.
The remaining $8,000 shall be suspended provided that the city of Oswego Fire Department does not violate the Public Health Law Article 30 or State Emergency Medical Services Code 10 NYCRR Part 800 within two years after the effective date of this Stipulation and Order.
Fire Chief McCrobie said, “Pending Common Council approval, this matter involving the documentation issues concerning pre-hospital care reports should be resolved. This is not a new event but the same one noted earlier in the year and most recently in our press release of Aug. 11.â€
“These issues as serious as they are, involve paperwork only and patient care was never compromised,†he continued. “Most involved ‘cancelled enroute’ calls, where the crews were cancelled and never made it to the destination and returned to quarters.â€
The fire department has instituted new policies and procedures in response to this investigation, the chief added.
“The state has acknowledged and commended our efforts in remedying these violations,†he said. “I am confident that our corrective measures will prevent future issues in this area.”
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