

ACTION REQUIRED

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By Jeff Clawson, M.D.
Journal Issue: 2015 Jul/Aug
Name withheld upon request
The Emergency Telecommunicator Course Manual on page 10.10 further states:
“Negligent retention is the omission of remedial or other prudent action on the part of an employer toward an employee whose performance is known. For example, if an agency has documented incidents of poor performance from a dispatcher, that agency is obligated to take appropriate action. Appropriate actions include documentation, remedial training, oversight, monitoring, and, if necessary, termination. If no action is taken, or if such action is inappropriate or ineffective, the agency may be held liable if the employee acts negligently.”
While it isn’t specifically mentioned in the Principles textbook, the Boff case in Dallas (starting on page 11.27) had a significant element of this regarding the previous performance issues with Billie Myrick, the nurse triager, who had been put up for discipline and possible termination by her supervisor, which the fire department brass quashed. Then the bomb went off with her “no send” argument and judgmental behavior with Larry Boff, the caller.
Hope this helps.
Jeff Clawson, M.D. IAED Division of Research, Standards & Academics
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