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With 16% of its workers in self-isolation due to exposure to the coronavirus, New Orleans Emergency Medical Services will run ambulances to situations that are not life-threatening staffed solely with emergency medical technicians and not the more highly trained paramedics who are now required to be on board.
The city will also receive an "ambulance surge" from the state to assist with medical services while it grapples with the COVID-19 epidemic, and officials are calling for volunteers to help with staffing, EMS said.
At least 94 of the city's 170 EMS workers have been exposed to the virus, authorities said. But because federal Centers for Disease Control guidelines allow medical professionals to keep working until they show symptoms, as long as they wear masks and are monitored for fever and other symptoms, only 28 have been put in isolation at home.
No EMS workers have tested positive for the virus, but many test results are pending.
New Orleans EMS Director Emily Nichols said in a news conference Wednesday that the rest of the exposed workers are working with precautions, and others who have not been exposed are stepping up what they do.
“This is now a critical mission,” she said, adding that the availability of masks and other supplies is not a problem right now because EMS has access to the Strategic National Stockpile.
She said there is no way to tell whether those exposed came into contact with someone sick while on the job or somewhere else.
She said current response times are not as fast as EMS would ideally want, but calls are being answered.
To deal with the staffing crunch and a spike in calls as the city grapples with the outbreak, EMS will relax its rules requiring that all ambulances have "advanced life support." That will allow ambulances staffed solely by EMTs to be sent to minor injuries, such as broken bones.
"Because of the extreme increase of calls to 911, New Orleans EMS has temporarily amended policy to allow for basic life support transports," New Orleans EMS Chief Bill Salmeron said. "This will allow us to easily staff ambulances as we are experiencing a shortage in paramedics due to health reasons."
The state will also send five "surge ambulances" to assist, and the city has approved bringing on volunteers with previous experience with New Orleans EMS to help staff ambulances.
Nichols said some steps are being considered if demand begins to outstrip EMS’ ability to meet it. She said EMS could begin referring people who are not in dire need of care to doctors, though she said that would happen after responders arrive onsite and that such options are being considered only if things get worse.
Salmeron said calls for help are at about the same level as last year, but potential flu- and coronavirus-related calls are up. He said the reason the overall call volume is flat is likely because of the lack of special events and large gatherings.
Nichols said EMS responders are all wearing masks, and everyone whom they tend to gets a mask, unless they can’t wear one, in which case they are given tissues to use if they cough or sneeze.
When tending to people with respiratory issues, EMS personnel wear protective gowns and ambulances are disinfected afterward.
“This is very scary for everyone,” Nichols said, noting that first responders are naturally fearful of getting ill and bringing the disease back to their own homes and families.
“These are unprecedented times,” she said.
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