From rural McDowell County to urban Forsyth, emergency services departments statewide say the labor shortage paired with high call volumes might mean it’ll take longer for an ambulance to arrive at your door.
Mecklenburg County commissioners have approved retention bonuses for certain employees of Medic, the county’s emergency medical services agency. Medic has struggled with persistent staffing shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Staff shortages have continued to grow in Mecklenburg County's EMS agency, and the agency will lose more help when FEMA withdraws the extra ambulances it sent in January to help Medic through the Omicron surge.
Medic, Mecklenburg County's EMS agency, says staffing shortages and increased demand during the latest COVID-19 surge are straining resources. The agency is making some temporary changes to cope, including increasing wait times for some non-emergency situations.