One ambulance crew member was fired and two others received “corrective action” for removing a patient from the ambulance in Rochester, New York, last year, according to rochesterfirst.com.
The ambulance crew asked police to remove the patient on November 30 after the crew said the man allegedly “jumped at” and grabbed the crew as he demanded oxygen.
Video taken from police body cameras blue light camera footage shows the man exit the ambulance, walk to a bench and collapse. The man is not helped for two minutes, according to video footage.
The man died at the hospital two weeks later.
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AMR said it could not share specific details about the incident due to patient privacy laws, adding they interviewed all the employees involved with the call.
AMR said in a statement its own investigation would continue with a review of company guidance. The state and city are also holding separate investigations.
“AMR is taking immediate steps to update and enhance our company policies, offering clear guidance to responders in managing the patient-provider relationship,” the company said in a statement. A detailed evaluation of our company’s operational protocols, policies, procedures, and training programs is underway, as is an examination of human factors that may come into play. At the conclusion of our review, we will promptly implement any and all necessary changes.
“AMR commits to company-wide education and training on crisis patient management, addressing cognitive biases to ensure all patients receive respectful and dignified service under our care.”
