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Five minutes or less: The L.A.F.D.

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Five minutes or less: The L.A.F.D.

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Content FIVE MINUTES OR LESS - - THE L.A.F.D.
Copyright 2002
by
William Patrick Paine
A Professional Project Presented to the
FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
MASTER OF ARTS
JOURNALISM
(BROADCAST JOURNALISM)
May 2003
William Patrick Paine
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
UMI Number: 1416573
UMI
UMI Microform 1416573
Copyright 2003 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company.
All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against
unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code.
ProQuest Information and Learning Company
300 North Zeeb Road
P.O. Box 1346
Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346
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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY PARK
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90089-1695
This thesis, written by
L PoAfu lc
* ^
under the direction o f h I - * ■ ' thesis committee, and
approved by all its members, has been presented to and
accepted by the Director o f Graduate and Professional
Programs, in partial fulfillment o f the requirements fo r the
degree o f
°'P~ j A / C f 5 , r) ^ O A ^ c ^{Ci~ S ? 4- r * ta - (
Director
Date May 1 6 . 2003
Thesis Committee
Chair
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract................................................................................................... iii
Body/Script..............................................................................................1
Endnotes................................................................................................. 22
Bibliography........................................................................................... 23
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ABSTRACT
Five Minutes or Less - The L.A.F.D. is a short documentary that focuses on
the emergency medical services that are provided to the city of Los Angeles by the
Fire Department.
Resources required to match the needs of an ever-increasing population have
sometimes been slow to come. As a result, the Fire Department has struggled to
maintain the high standard of service that the community has grown to expect. In
the past thirty years, the Fire Department has become an integral part of the city’s
health care system. This piece will show how the operational capabilities of the Fire
Department and that of the county’s hospitals affect the each other directly as the
two work in tandem. Moreover, the condition of the area’s health care system
depends upon the citizens willingness to pay for these services.
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1
PICTURE SOUND
EXT. CU/MED
WILLIAM STANDS IN FRONT OF FIRE
STATION #27
EXT. WIDE-EMT’S ASSIST A
BLOODED & BANDAGED MAN DOWN
A CORRIDOR
INT. WIDE-FIRE ENGINE SPEEDS
DOWN STREET AS SEEN FROM
INSIDE THE CAB.
EXT. CU TO MED-PARAMEDICS
TREAT A WOMAN WHO IS BLEEDING
ON THE SIDE WALK
EXT. MED-WILLIAM STAND UP WITH
STATION 27 CLEARLY VISIBLE IN
B.G.-SAME SCENE, DIFFERENT
ANGLE
(SOT)WILLIAM
FOR OVER 100 YEARS, LOS
ANGELENOS HAVE RELIED ON THEIR
FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH
THE FLAMES THREATENING LIFE OR
PROPERTY. BUT THE NEEDS OF THIS
COMMUNITY CHANGED
DRAMATICALLY IN THE LATTER
HALF OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.
Today, more than three quarters of the calls
to the fire department are for health related
emergencies and that number is growing.1
changes in the community’s needs are
reflected by the increasing demand for
emergency medical services. This program
looks at how the fire department has met
some of the challenges of the modem era.
THIS IS FIRE STATION NUMBER 27,
LOCATED IN HOLLYWOOD
CALIFORNIA. THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT ESTIMATES THIS TO
BE THE 6TH BUSIEST OF THE 102 FIRE
STATIONS IN THE METROPOLITAN
AREA.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
PICTURE SOUND
2
I
I
INT. MED-PARAMEDIC CLEANS
INTERIOR OF AMBULANCE
INT. CU OF PICTURE FEATURING
MEMBERS OF CENTRAL RECEIVING
STANDING IN FRONT OF THEIR
AMBULANCE.
INT. MED-BUZZELL TALKS TO
EDITOR OF UNION PAPER IN HIS
OFFICE
INT.MED-BUZZELL SEATED IN
UNION OFFICE
(VO)WILLIAM
Like any other fire station in Los Angeles,
most of the calls at station 27 involve
medical emergencies, which was not
always the case. Until 1970, private
ambulance companies transported patients
to a Central Receiving hospital.2 Ken
Buzzell is the President of the Firefighters
Union.
(SOT/VO)BUZZELL
THOSE PEOPLE WERE NOT EVEN
EMT’S AT THAT TIME, EMT’S ARE
EMERGENCY MEDICAL
TECHNICIANS. THEY WERE
BASICALLY PEOPLE WITH FIRST AID
CARDS WHO DROVE AMBULANCES.
SO THERE WAS A DIFFERENT LEVEL
OF PROFESSIONALISM THEN.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
PICTURE SOUND
INT. MED.--HISSERICH TALKS TO
ANOTHER PROFESSOR
INT. MED--HISSERICH IN AN
AUDITORIUM
EXT. WIDE-PARAMEDICS LIFT A
PATIENT ONTO A STRETCHER
(VO)WILLIAM
The Fire Department took complete control
of the city’s emergency medical service by
1973. Dr. John Hisserich is Vice President
for health affairs at USC. He says the Fire
Department decided to go into the area of
emergency medical response partly because
of salary concerns.
(SOT)HISSERICH
BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY IN
RECRUITING POLICE OFFICERS,
THERE WERE MOVES IN VARIOUS
COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING LA., TO
HAVE THE PAY FOR POLICE
OFFICERS TO MOVE AHEAD OF THE
FIREFIGHTERS. FIREFIGHTERS
UNIONS REALIZED THAT THEY
NEEDED HIGHER VISIBILITY.
(VO)WILLTAM
During the late sixties, highly trained
medics were returning from Vietnam.
Mayor James Hahn’s father, Kenneth Hahn,
served on the city council at the time.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
PICTURE SOUND
EXT. WIDE-PARAMEDICS TESTING
PATIENT FOR BACK INJURIES
INT. MED-BUZZELL IN OFFICE
INT. MED-HISSERICH IN
AUDITORIUM
EXT.WIDE--CONSTRUCTION SITE
INT.MED-HISSERICH IN
AUDITORIUM
(VO/SOT)BUZZELL
THEY HAD BEEN ON THE FRONT
LINES DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO
HAD BEEN SHOT OR GOT HIT WITH
SHRAPNEL. BASICALLY, MAJOR
TRAUMA TREATMENT, AND THAT
WASN’T PROVIDED BY ANYONE
ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES
AND KENNY HAHN HAD THE IDEA
THAT WHY DON’T WE USE THESE
PEOPLE?
(SOT)HISSERICH
AT THE SAME TIME THE NEED FOR
FIRE FIGHTING SERVICES WAS
DECLINING AS A RESULT OF SUCH
FACTORS AS SPRINKLERS AND
IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION. SO ON
THE ONE HAND, BECAUSE THE
NUMBER OF FTRES WAS GOING
DOWN, THERE WAS A NEED FOR
HIGHER VISIBILITY AND TO PROVIDE
GOOD SERVICE.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
5
PICTURE SOUND
EXT. WIDE-VINTAGE FOOTAGE OF (VO)WILLIAM
AMBULANCE CIRCA ‘74 Dr. Brian Johnston is a past president of the
Los Angeles County Health Commission.
He has worked as an emergency room
physician at White Memorial Medical
Center in East Los Angeles since 1975. He
witnessed the changeover first hand.
INT.MED-FRANCO WALKS THROUGH (SOT)JOHNSTON
HIS OFFICE THE DECISION WAS MADE TO
INTEGRATE IN THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY HAD
INT. MED/CU-FRANCO AT DESK IN STATIONS EVERYWHERE. THEY HAD
DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
ALREADY. THEY HAD RADIOS THEY
HAD MAINTENANCE SHOPS. A
WHOLE INFRASTRUCTURE ON
WHICH THE PARAMEDIC SYSTEM
WAS GRAFTED. IT WAS A GOOD
MOVE.
EXT. WIDE-TEEMING MASSES IN LOS
ANGELES STREETS
EXT. WIDE-PARAMEDICS TAKE
PATIENT IN THROUGH EMERGENCY
ROOM DOORS
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PICTURE SOUND
6
EXT. WIDE-VINTAGE FOOTAGE OF
AMBULANCE CIRCA ‘74
INT.MED-FRANCO WALKS THROUGH
HIS OFFICE
INT. MED/CU-FRANCO AT DESK IN
DEPARTMENT
EXT. WIDE-TEEMING MASSES IN LOS
ANGELES STREETS
EXT. WIDE-PARAMEDICS TAKE
PATIENT IN THROUGH EMERGENCY
ROOM DOORS
(VO)WILLIAM
By 1974, the Fire Department was treating
and transporting people with medical
emergencies in all areas of the city. Most
agree that the system works better now than
before. Fire Department spokesman Chief
Bob Franco’s opinion is typical.
(SOT)FRANCO
OH, YEA, THERE’S NO DOUBT. THE
CITIZENS OF LA ARE IN MUCH
BETTER SHAPE WITH THE
PROGRAMS WE HAVE NOW AND THE
LEVEL OF TRAINING THAT
EVERYONE HAS, NOT JUST THE
PARAMEDICS BUT ALL OF OUR
FIREFIGHTERS.
(VO)WILLIAM
But there have been problems. The passage
of proposition 13 in 1978 forced city and
state government to reduce expenditures.3
Thus, in spite of an ever increasing state
population, officials in the Los Angeles Fire
Department found it increasingly difficult
to secure funds to increase staffing or
equipment. The situation improved little in
the nineties.
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7
PICTURE SOUND
INT. MED-BUZZELL IN OFFICE
EXT. MED-RIORDAN AND PARKS
TOGETHER AT OPENING OF NEW
POLICE STATION SITE
EXT. MED.-RIORDAN IN FRONT OF
CAMERAS POSING FOR PRESS
INT. MED-STATION HOUSE-
PARAMEDICS CLIMB IN AMBULANCE
THEN TURN ON LIGHTS
EXT. WIDE-EMPTY AMBULANCE
SITTING
INSIDE THE VAST/EMPTY STATION
HOUSE INTERIOR
EXT. WIDE-CITY STREETS-
PARAMEDTCS GATHER ROUND A HIT
AND RUN VICTIM-EXAMINE HIM
(SOT)BUZZELL
AROUND 1994 WE HAD A NEW
MAYOR COME IN AND HE HAD A
NEW POLICY WHICH WAS POLICE
WERE THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY
AND EVERYTHING ELSE WAS
SECONDARY.
(VO)WILLIAM
Mayor Riordan’s policy resulted in a five
year hiring freeze in the Fire Department.
At the same time, the call volume for
EMT’S and paramedics increased.4 The
city purchased more ambulances, but no
one was hired to drive them. To counter
this shortage of personnel, the Fire
Department established the Assigned Hire
system. Paramedics, who like firefighters
work 24 hour shifts, were required to
volunteer for overtime or face reprimand.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
8
PICTURE SOUND
INT. MED--OFFICE AT FIRE
DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS
INT. MED-CONFERENCE ROOM-
UNION OFFICE
EXT.WIDE-STREET-PARAMEDICS
PUT AN INJURED PERSON ON A
BACKBOARD
INT.WIDE— STATION HOUSE UTILITY
FLOOR-RICK GETS INTO AN
AMBULANCE LIGHTS FLASHING AND
READY TO GO.
(SOT)FRANCO
WE HAD TO IMPLEMENT THIS PLAN
SAYING THE RESOURCES WERE
THERE. WE HAD TO KEEP IT
STAFFED TO AVOID CLOSING THAT
RESOURCE, THE PARAMEDICS WERE
REQUIRED TO WORK FOUR DAYS
PER MONTH OVERTIME.
(SOT)BUZZELL
AS A RESULT, THE CALL LOAD ON
INDIVIDUAL PARAMEDICS BECAME
EXCESSIVE. THEY WERE FORCED TO
WORK OVERTIME AND DIDN’T WANT
TO AND AS A RESULT WE HAD
PEOPLE WORKING 80 TO 100 HOURS
A WEEK ON A REGULAR BASIS. IF
THEY DIDN’T VOLUNTEER THEY
WERE FORCED TO WORK.
(VO)WTLLTAM
Rick Torrentoria has worked as a
paramedic at Station 27 for 16 years. He
once worked five, 24 hour shifts, back to
back.
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PICTURE SOUND
9
INT.MED/CU-RICK IN CONFERENCE
ROOM AT STATION 27--SEATED
INT.MED-BACK OF AMBULANCE AS
PARAMEDICS EXAMINE PATIENT
SCENE CONTINUES
INT.MED--BUZZELL IN UNION OFFICE'
-SEATED
(SOT/VO)T ORRENT ORIA
THERE’S NO QUESTION ABOUT
BEING AS SHARP AS THE FIRST DAY,
I MEAN WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
BEING HUMAN... YOU’RE GOING TO
BE TIRED, YOU’ RE GOING TO BE A
LITTLE BIT CRANKY. IT ALL
DEPENDS ON HOW YOU, THE
INDIVIDUAL, ARE GOING TO BE ABLE
TO HANDLE THE STRESSERS AND
DEAL WITH THEM SO THAT YOU’RE
ON AN EVEN KEEL THROUGHOUT
THAT FIVE DAY PERIOD.
(VO/SOT)BUZZELL
YOU START MAKING MISTAKES NOT
BECAUSE YOU’RE INCOMPETENT
BUT BECAUSE YOU MISS THINGS.
PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT
HAVING A LIFE. YOU WOULD
PROMISE TO TAKE THE KIDS TO
DISNEY LAND AND THE INDIVIDUAL
WAS TOLD AT 6:30 IN THE MORNING,
SORRY YOU CAN’T GO HOME.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
10
PICTURE SOUND
EXT.WIDE--FIRE ENGINE RUSHES
DOWN STREET
EXT. WEDE-FIRE ENGINE EXITS
STATION 27
INT.CU TO WIDE-VIEW FROM INSIDE
CAB OF ENGINE AS THEY BARREL
DOWN THE STREET.
FIREFIGHTER/DRIVER ON
MICROPHONE HOLLERS AT
MOTORISTS.
EXT.CU TO WIDE-SHOT OF
PARAMEDICS IN CAB OF
AMBULANCE
EXT. WTDE-ACCIDENT ON STREET-
PARAMEDICS TALK TO INJURED
PARTIES-ENGINES AND
AMBULANCES ALL AROUND
(VO)WILLIAM
The Fire Department takes pride in being at
the scene of an emergency in five minutes
or less with a fire engine and under eight
minutes with an ambulance.5 Due to
personnel shortages in the 90’s, paramedics
would often take much longer to arrive. To
remedy this, the Fire Department attempted
to employ a controversial program called
‘one plus one.’. Normally, two paramedics
travel together in one ambulance to the
scene of a medical emergency. The ‘one
plus one’ plan puts a paramedic and an
EMT together in one ambulance. The other
paramedic rides in a fire engine to the scene
of an injury. The fire engine cannot carry a
patient, but generally arrives first to an
accident because it leaves directly from the
station house. Ambulances often must
leave from the scene of another accident.
Dr. Marc Ekstein is the Medical Director
for the Los Angeles Fire Department.
EXT. WIDE-SAME AS ABOVE BUT
DIFFERENT ACCIDENT
INT.MED-EKSTEIN IN OFFICE
WORKING
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PICTURE SOUND
11
INT.MED-EKSTEIN IN LOBBY OF FIRE
DEPARTMENT OFFICE
INT. CU/MED-RICK IN CONFERENCE
ROOM
INT.MED-EKSTEIN IN LOBBY OF F.D.
(SOT)EKSTEIN
IF YOU’RE A CITIZEN WOULD YOU
RATHER HAVE 100 MEDICS ON 100
RESOURCES OR 100 MEDICS ON 50
RESOURCES? I WANT A MEDIC AT
MY HOUSE NOW, MEANING DO YOU
WANT TWO MEDICS AT YOUR HOUSE
IN TEN MINUTES OR WOULD YOU
RATHER HAVE ONE MEDIC IN FIVE
MINUTES AND A SECOND ONE IN
FIVE MINUTES? IF YOUR CHILD IS
DYING OF AN ASTHMA ATTACK AND
HE NEEDS A SHOT OF ADRENALINE, I
WANT ONE THERE IN FIVE, NOT TWO
THERE IN TEN.
(SOT)TORRENTORIA
I DON’T AGREE WITH THE ONE PLUS
ONE POLICY. I THINK THERE ARE
TOO MANY INSTANCES WHERE TWO
PARAMEDICS ARE CONSEQUENTLY
NEEDED ON MANY TYPES OF
MEDICAL CALLS.
(SOT)EKSTEIN
THE PARAMEDICS MET THIS
CONCEPT WITH A REVOLT.
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PICTURE SOUND
INT.MED-EKSTEIN IN LOBBY OF F.D.
OFFICE
INT. MED-FRANCO IN OFFICE AT
FIRE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS
(SOT)FRANCO
THE POLITICIANS WERE AGAINST IT.
THE UNION HATED IT. THE RANK
AND FILE SAW IT AS A BAD
ALTERNATIVE TO HIRING MORE
PERSONNEL,
(SOT)EKSTEIN
IF YOU LOOK AT IT SCIENTIFICALLY,
THERE’S VERY LITTLE ARGUMENT
AGAINST IT AT ALL.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
PICTURE SOUND
13
INT. WIDE-ST ATION HOUSE-
FIREFIGHTERS CLEAN THE
TRUCKS/GEAR
INT.CU-NEWSPAPERS BEARING
HEADLINES ABOUT DEPARTMENT
FALL ONE ON ANOTHER
INT.MED-BUZZELL IN UNION H.Q.-HE
IS ANIMATED HERE
(VO)
The ‘One plus One’ policy was never
implemented. Even though it is used in all
but two counties in the state with generally
satisfactory results. Dr, Ekstein believes it
was a good idea presented at the wrong
time. Morale in the department was low,
due mostly to a dearth of personnel. Local
newspapers ran stories about exhausted
paramedics and the declining quality in
service.6
(SOT)BUZZELL
RIORDAN WAS A CLASSIC MASTER
OF SMOKE AND MIRRORS. HE DID A
LOT OF TALKING BUT ALL HE DID
WAS RAPE AND PILLAGE THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT. IT WAS ONLY AFTER
THINGS GOT TOTALLY OUT OF
CONTROL. PEOPLE GOT SO
FRUSTRATED THAT THERE WAS
OUTWARD ANIMOSITY BETWEEN
THE RANKS AND THE
ADMINISTRATION. THE PUBLIC
BECAME AWARE OF IT. WE DID
FINALLY GET ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
PICTURE SOUND
14
INT.CU-NEWSPAPER HEADLINE
EXT, WTDE-MONTAGE OF 5 STATIONS
WITH AMBULANCES PARKED
INSIDE/OUTSIDE
INT.WIDE-STATION HOUSE-
PARAMEDICS AND
EMT/FIREFIGHTERS STAND IN A
GROUP LAUGHING
EXT. WIDE TO CU-STREET-
PARAMEDICS TEND TO A YOUNG
WOMAN WHO LAYS ON THE
PAVEMENT WITH HER HEAD
BLEEDING.
(VO)WILLIAM
The City Council did eventually vote to
pass measures giving the fire department
more adequate funding.7 Since then, Chief
Lebattre publicly declared his intention to
equip every fire station in the city with a
paramedic ambulance and crew.
Involuntary overtime assignments are rare
and morale seems high. Despite persistent
problems, the Fire Department maintained
its focus on serving the emergency medical
needs of Angelenos. Advances in
technology have allowed implementation of
new procedures. One that holds particular
promise was developed with USC. It’s
called the Los Angeles Pre hospital Stroke
Screen or L.A.P.S.S.
INT. CU-L.A.P.S.S UNIT
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PICTURE SOUND
15
INT. MED-EKSTEIN IN F.D.
HEADQUARTERS
EXT. CU TO WIDE-THROUGH THE
WINDOW OF PARAMEDIC TREATING
PATIENT INSIDE AMBULANCE.
(SOT/VO)EKSTEIN
NOW WHAT WE’VE DONE, IS
ENABLED THE PARAMEDICS...TO
GIVE THEM SOME INTRAVENOUS
MEDICATION BEFORE THEY GET TO
THE HOSPITAL TO PROTECT
VULNERABLE AREAS OF THE
BRAIN....THIS IS PROBABLY THE
FIRST STUDY NATIONWIDE OR
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WHERE
PARAMEDICS ARE TREATING
STROKE IN THE FIELD.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
16
PICTURE SOUND
EXT. WIDE-BACK LOT OF
FIREHOUSE-F3REFIGHTERS INSPECT
HOSES.
EXT. MED--BACK LOT OF FIREHOUSE-
-FIREFIGHTERS TEND TO
VENTILATING UNITS
EXT. WIDE-GENERAL HOSPITAL
INT.MED-DR. JOHNSTON IN
CONFERENCE ROOM SEATED
INT.MED-PATIENT COMES THROUGH
HOSPITAL DOORS ON A GURNEY
WHEELED BY PARAMEDICS
(VO)WILLIAM
In the nineties, the Department suffered a
glaring lack of resources that was
temporarily remedied by a much needed
infusion of money and personnel. The
condition of the Fire Department’s
emergency medical service depends on the
health of the county medical system. The
two are inextricably bound.
(SOT/V 0)J0HNST0N
THE PARAMEDICS ARE A BIG PART
OF IT. THERE IS A FEDERAL LAW
THAT WAS PUT INTO PLACE IN
1986...WHICH REQUIRES ANY
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT TO TAKE
ANY PATIENT AT ANY TIME AND
PROVIDE A SCREENING EXAM.
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17
PICTURE SOUND
EXT.WEDE--STREETS OF
DOWNTOWN-LOTS OF PEOPLE-
DIFFERENT SHOTS
INT.CU-CONFERENCE ROOM
EXT. WIDE— SKID ROW/DOWN BY THE
RIVERSIDE
EXT. WIDE TO CU-STREET IN
FRONT OF APT.-RUSSIAN IS LIFTED
FROM GURNEY TO AMBULANCE
(VO)WILLIAM
But the problem is complicated by the fact
that about a third of the residents of Los
Angeles County have no health insurance.8
This figure has remained steady and ranks
amongst the highest in the nation.
(SOT/V0)J0HNST0N
THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAVE
LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO
HAVE NO OTHER WAY OF GETTING
HEALTHCARE. THEY DON’T HAVE A
DOCTOR OR IF THEY DO IT’S AN HMO
THAT’S SUCH A CHEESY OPERATION
THAT THEY CAN’T GET IN TO SEE A
DOCTOR. THEY HAVE NO OTHER
ACCESS, AND THEY OFTEN WAIT
UNTIL THEY’RE REALLY REALLY
SICK AND...THEN THEY CALL 911.
(VO)WILLTAM
Paramedics ambulances have become the
best way for a person with little or no
money to access health care.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
18
PICTURE SOUND
INT.MED-CONFERENCE ROOM
STATION 27
INT. WIDE-EMERGENCY ROOM FULL
OF PEOPLE
EXT. WIDE-MONTAGE OF
EMERGENCY ROOM ENTRANCES
EXT. WIDE-AMBULANCES IN FRONT
OF EMERGENCY ROOMS-
INT.MED-HOSPITAL-SICK PERSON
(SOT/VO)RICK
MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE
USING THE EMERGENCY ROOM AS
THEIR PRIVATE PHYSICIAN,
CONSEQUENTLY ITS BACKING UP
THE BEDS OR THERE ARE NO BEDS
AVAILABLE BECAUSE THE ER’s NOW
ARE SEEING PATIENTS WITH MINOR
COMPLAINTS, RATHER THAN THE
MORE SERIOUS INJURY OR MEDICAL
COMPLAINTS.
(VO)WILLIAM
The last decade saw a sharp decrease in
emergency room availability statewide.
California’s population grew by more than
13 percent during that same period.9
(VO/SOT)EKSTEIN
IF YOU LOOK AT ANY EMERGENCY
DEPARTMENT ACROSS TOWN,
THEY’ RE DIVERTING AMBULANCES
MOST OF THE TIME. MOST
HOSPITALS ARE AT OR ABOVE
CENSUS. THERE IS A NURSING
SHORTAGE. PEOPLE PRESENTING TO
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS ARE
SICKER, THEY’RE WAITING LONGER
TO GET SEEN. THERE IS VERY
LITTLE ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE.
INT. MED-EKSTEIN AT FIRE
DEPARTMENT H.Q.
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19
PICTURE
INT. MED-CONFERENCE ROOM--
JOHNSTON SEATED
INT. MED-CONFERENCE ROOM AT
STATION 27
INT.WIDE TO CU-HOSPITAL NURSES
TNT.MED-CONFERENCE ROOM AT
STATION 27
SOUND
(SOT)JOHNSTON
WELL IF YOU LOOK AT THAT
SYSTEM TODAY, YOU’LL FIND THAT
IT IS TOTALLY INADEQUATE. JUST
GO LOOK AT THE WAITING ROOMS.
GO LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO
SPEND 16, 18 HOURS AND WALK OUT
WITHOUT HAVING BEEN SEEN.
(VO/SOT/VO)RICK
I THINK WHAT WE’RE SEEING NOW
IS BECAUSE THE NURSING
PERSONNEL ARE SO OVERWORKED
AND SO OVERLOADED, THERE’S A
DISDAIN WHEN WE COME THROUGH
THE DOORS WITH A PATIENT. THE
FIRST THING THEY WANT TO DO IS
RUN THE OTHER WAY, ROLL THEIR
EYES AND SAY ‘DON’T YOU KNOW
WE’RE CLOSED?’
(VO)WILLIAM
Initially, there were twenty two trauma
centers in Los Angeles County. The last
several years has seen that number drop to
thirteen. Recent cuts in tobacco tax funds
threaten to further jeopardize county health
programs. The Fire Department has
become the primary source of health care.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
PICTURE SOUND
20
INT. CU-CONFERENCE ROOM--
JOHNSTON SITS
EXT.MED-WILLIAM DOES STAND UP
IN FRONT OF STATION 27
(SOT)EKSTEIN
PEOPLE THROW THE TERM CRISIS
AROUND QUITE A BIT. I WOULD SAY
THE SYSTEM, THE HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM, THE EMERGENCY HEALTH
CARE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE, IN THE
COUNTY IS AT A CRISIS POINT,
RIGHT NOW.
(SOT)JOHNSTON
WE NEED TO FUND THE SYSTEM. WE
NEED TO SAY TO OURSELVES, YES,
THIS IS A VALUABLE SYSTEM.
(SOT) WILLIAM
IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO FIND A
CITY EMPLOYEE WHO DOESN’T
BELIEVE THEIR DEPARTMENT HAS
NEED OF MORE FUNDING. THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT IS NO EXCEPTION.
THE DIFFERENCE IS THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT’S CHRONIC
SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES IS NOT
THE RESULT OF SHODDY
ADMINISTRATION, BUT THE
PRODUCT OF A COUNTY MEDICAL
SYSTEM AT THE POINT OF
COLLAPSE.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
PICTURE SOUND
EXT. WIDE-MONTAGE OF
AMBULANCES/FIRE ENGINES RACING
TO EMERGENCIES AND SCENES OF
EMERGENCIES WITH
FIREFIGHTERS/PARAMEDICS
TREATING VICTIMS
EXT.MED--WILLIAM IN FRONT OF
STATION 27-STAND UP
END END END END
(VO/SOT) WILLIAM
BECAUSE A GREAT MANY PEOPLE
DO NOT HAVE READY ACCESS TO
QUALITY HEALTH CARE, THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT HAS BECOME THE
BEST MEANS OF ATTAINING
MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR THE
UNDER AND UNINSURED. BARRING
DRAMATIC CHANGE IN THE
CURRENT STATE OF THE COUNTY’S
HEALTH CARE, THE NEED FOR THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT’S EMERGENCY
MEDICAL SERVICE WILL CONTINUE
TO GROW. THE QUESTION IS, WILL
THE COMMUNITY PROVIDE THE
RESOURCES TO INSURE THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT CAN MEET THESE
NEEDS IN THE FUTURE. THE
ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION WILL
DETERMINE WHETHER THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT CAN PROVIDE WHAT
CITIZENS OF LOS ANGELES HAVE
COME TO EXPECT-EMERGENCY
ASSISTANCE FOR ANYONE,
ANYWHERE IN THE CITY, IN FIVE
MINUTES OR LESS.
END END END END
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
ENDNOTES
1 32 Year History of Emergency Service. Community Liason Office, (2002), p.7
2 Los Angeles Fire Department Website (www.lafd.org/p3.htm)
3 Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association Website, ww.hjta.org/propl3.htm
4 32 Year History of Emergency Service, Community Liason Office, (2002), p. 12
^ 32 Year History of Emergency Service. Community Liason Office, (2002), p. 16
6 Los Angeles TimesfVallev Edition), April 4,2001, p. 4
Los Angeles Times: December 17,2000
Los Angeles Times: September 8,2000
7 Los Angeles Times: January 12,1999
Los Angeles Times: November 7,2001
Los Angeles Times: July 19,2000
8 LOS ANGELES ALMANAC (Website)
www.losangelesalmanac.com/topics/Health/he05.htm
9 United States Census (Website).
quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06037.html
Department of Health Services (Website)
ladhs.org/ems/TRAUMA/trau_hsp.htm
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Department of Health Services (Website), ladhs.org/ems/TRAUMA iraujisp.htm
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association Website, www.lyta.org/prop]3.htm
Los Angeles Almanac ( Website),wvw. losangelesalmanac.comtopics1 Health heO5. htm
Los Angeies Fire Department Website, www.lafd.org/p3.htm
Los Angeles Times. January 12,1999
Los Angeles Times, July 19,2000
Los Angeles Times. September 8,2000
Los Angeles Times, December 17,2000
Los Angeles Times, November 7,2001
Los Angeles TimesfVallev Edition). April 4,2001
32 Year History of Emergency Service. Community Liason Office, (2002), p. 7
United States Census (Website), quickfacts.censvs.gov/qfd/states/06/060373tfml
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

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Creator Paine William Patrick (author)

Core Title Five minutes or less: The L.A.F.D.

School Graduate School

Degree Master of Arts

Degree Program Broadcast Journalism

Publisher University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag health sciences, public health,OAI-PMH Harvest,Political Science, public administration

Language English

Contributor Digitized by ProQuest (provenance)

Advisor [illegible] (committee chair), [illegible] (committee member)

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-c16-305942

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Identifier 1416573.pdf (filename),usctheses-c16-305942 (legacy record id)

Legacy Identifier 1416573.pdf

Dmrecord 305942

Document Type Thesis

Rights Paine William Patrick

Type texts

Source University of Southern California (contributing entity), University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses (collection)

Access Conditions The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the au...

Repository Name University of Southern California Digital Library

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