'A disaster that has not ended,' New Orleans EMS facing staffing problems Share Updated: 6:29 PM CDT Jul 29, 2021 Share Updated: 6:29 PM CDT Jul 29, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript SULA: AS COVID CASES CONTINUE TO GO UP AND A UP, NEW ORLEANS EMS SAYS THEY ARE HAVINGAJ M STAFFING ISSS.UE GINA: WDSU REPORTER AUBRY KILLION IS LIVE AT NEW ORLEANS EMS HEADQUARTERS TO EXPLAIN. AUBRY? AUBRY: HEY, GINA. SO THE STAFFING NUMBERS WE HAVE THING TODAY ARE VERY CONCERNING, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE ALSO FOUND OUT TODAY THAT MULTIPLE EMPLOYEES RIGHT HERE AT ORLEANS EMS HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVI19D-. [SIREN] IT IS A SOUND WE KNOW ALL TOO WELL IN NEW ORLEANS, EMS RESPONDING TA CALLO DR. NICHOLS: OUR STAFF THAT ARE ROUTINELY IN THE FIELD ARE CONTINUING TO SHOW UP IN SEOM REALLY DIRE TIMES FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN GENERAL. AUBRY: DR. EMILY NICHOLS IS THE DIRECTOR OF NEW ORLEANS EMS. ARE THERE SITUATIONS WHERE PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO WAIT LONGER TIMES THAN NORMAL FOAN AMBULANCE TO GET TO THEM? DR. NICHOLS: THERERE A SITUATIONS, ABSOLUTELY. AUBRY: WHEN IT COMES TO AFFEDST AMBULANCES, TODAY,MS E SAYS THEY HAD NINE OVER THE COURSE OF A 12-HOUR SHIFT. TYPICALLY, THERE WOULD B16E . EMS SAYS OVER A 24-HOUR PERIOD, THEY HAVE 16 AND WOULD TYPICALLY HAVE4. 2 AND THISEA YR, 23 PEOPLE HAVE LEFT EMS. THEY HAVE 19 NEW HIRES. EMS SAYS ALL OF THE NEW HIRES ARE STILL TRAINING, AND THEY STILL HAVE 15 OTHER VACANCS.IE EMS HAS BROUGHT IN ADMINISTRATORS AND NOFD TO RIDE ON AMBULANCES TO MAKE UP FOR THE STAFF SHORTAGE. EDWARD: EXTREMELSCY ARY. AUBRY: CONCERNING FOR EDWARD LAMP AND TARA RHODES. THEY ARE FROM NEW ORLES.AN TARA: FOR THEM NOT TO BE THE,RE THAT IS VERY HEARTBREAKING COMING TO KNOW THAT -- I DON’T KNOW MAYBE IT’S THE PAY. ,MAYBE IT’S THE PAY THAT IS STOPPING THEM FROM DOINGT. II’M SAD THAT’S ALL WE HAVE OUT HERE. IT MAKES ME SCAR.ED AUBRY: AND TO ADD TO THE STAFFING ISSUE, EMS SAYS THEY HAVE SEVEN EMPLOYEES OUT RIGHT NOW, AFTER THEY TESTED POSITEIV FOR COVID OR WERE EXPOSED. DR. NICHOLS: THIS IS A DISASTER THAT HAS NOT ENDED. ANYONE WILL AT SOME POINT EXPERIENCE FATIGUE FROM THAT ANY WORKFORCE, INDUSTRY WILL SUFFER THE SAME, AND SO WE’VE GOT TO GET TOGETHER TO GET THROUGH IT. THERE IS A CHANCE THIS LONG THAT THINGS COULD BE IN JEOPARDY. AUBRY: AND NEW ORLEANS EMS IS PLEADING WITH THE PUBLIC TO GET VACCINATED. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO NDFI MORE INFORM