D.C. Emergency Services Fails Another Test

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Health Department officials reported:

? That the test administered to the EMT recertification class March 31 has been used "multiple times" since January 2003. That same test was administered this year on Feb. 3, Feb. 17, March 10 and March 31.

? That instructor M. took the same test in 2004.

? That "sample" questions based on previous tests, as explained by the FEMS, could have been the actual test questions; hence there is concern that the test may have been compromised.

? The FEMS never notified the Health Department about Shanklin's complaint.

Yesterday Beverly Pritchett, the recently hired senior deputy director of the department's Emergency Health and Medical Services Administration, issued the following statement:

"As corrective action, the [D.C. Health Department] has directed that new exams will be produced for each exam day. . . . Since no one can retest on the same day, we will continue to use that same test all day. This will allow for comparison between the different training sites for problem areas in instruction and pass rates.

"In addition, all EMT Training, Testing and Certification policies will be reviewed, updated and published not later than July 30th. Following that, all paramedic training, testing and certification policies will undergo the same review, update and publishing procedures."

Spread the word, Chief.

I would have sought comment from the mayor, but he was in London yesterday, and in Ankara, Turkey, today and tomorrow, and goodness knows where after that.

kingc@washpost.com

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