New Orleans EMS needs to respond quicker, OIG says increased staff, funding are needed

New Orleans EMS (NOEMS) is falling behind when it comes to responding to critical medical emergencies, but the ambulance service needs more money and staffing to fix the issue, according to a new report from the Office of Inspector General.

The findings, released Thursday, revealed that NOEMS response times to emergencies requiring advanced life support consistently lag behind industry standards and its own standards. The inspector general attributes this discrepancy to staffing shortages and retention issues, adding that NOEMS wages can’t compete with those of other area EMS providers.