National EMT shortage threatens patient care

Nearly every industry has dealt with staffing shortages since the start of the pandemic, but few can mean the difference between life and death like that of an emergency medical technician. However, low wages are forcing EMTs out of their jobs. Carter Evans reports.

#news #health #ambulance

"CBS Evening News with Norah O'Donnell" delivers the latest news and original reporting, and goes beyond the headlines with context and depth. Catch the "CBS Evening News" weeknights at 6:30 p.m. ET on the CBS Television Network and at 10 p.m. ET on the CBS News app.

[keegangidley]

There needs to be a nationwide overhaul of EMS. Huge crackdown on 911 abuse and increase pay/standards

[HealthyHeathenHousewife]

In 2020, as an EMT in Fayetteville, NC working on a 911 service, I made $11 an hour. Try paying for childcare, buying groceries, filling up a car, paying rent, on $11 an hour. The only way to make enough was to work an unhealthy amount of over time and never see my family.

Call after call, 14 hour shifts, going hungry, in the cold, heat, rain, or apartments infested with bedbugs. And they wonder why people don’t stay in the field. I left a job I loved because I didn’t want to work and still qualify for public assistance.

That’s EMS in America.

[seraphina]

I think EMT is the hardest and stressful job, these guys are on the scene pre-hospital stage, they work long hours, sacrificing their family times, just pay them more for their worth and value, I RESPECT what they do!

[quinaraproctor]

They simply do not pay enough for the hard work emt do

[robertjessen]

I dropped out of my paramedic class in 1983 because the going rate was $7.25 an hour. I was a union Ironworker and making $22.00 plus benefits, it was a no brainer. Thing haven't changed.

[ethanshaw]

As a burned out paramedic of nearly a decade, I say we all quit and let the public fend for themselves for a day or two. Then we’ll see who really deserves a mandated minimum wage. Fast food workers, or the ones who help you after 20+ years of fast food throat punches your heart at 0300.

[Internethugg]

Do a story on 911 abuse. That's directly contributing to the burnout rate and why people are leaving this profession in droves.

[devone]

It's funny to see patients and nurses complain about wait times and such when we're getting paid less than gas station attendants, bus drivers, and McDonald's employees. Why should we have to work 72-96 hours a week just to make what most jobs do in 40 hours with no medical liability and not being awake for 22-24 hours straight?

[DavidH]

Private ambulance companies and Fire departments taking over ems have ruined the field. The pay and quality of life is too bad. Most people worth their salt will only use EMS as a stepping stone in their medical career.

[JasonCotting]

I worked in the Denver metro area in 05-09 as an EMT basic. $10.10/hr. The hearse driver's in Denver were getting $15/hr

People will only pay what they value. Everyone thinks healthcare should be free but they want the prehospital professional that comes on the worst day of their life to be the best one possible, but then don't want to pay for it.
There's a conflict in making business work well with healthcare. They don't go together will at all.
Pay the EMS professionals what they are worth and they will fill the jobs. Stop paying celebrities so much as they aren't worth it.

[BrianApplegateAndFriends]

EMT is by the far the worst job. I’ve been an EMT for a year, hoping to be a firefighter someday. I finally got hired at a fire department as an EMT and they are paying me $15.00 an hour. On top of all of the stuff in the ambulance, we are also the maids of the station - cleaning and cooking, and being completely disrespected for 24 hours straight. We also get drafted due to the lack of EMT’s, sometimes turning into a 72hr shift. I’m about to quit. The entire system is messed up.

[TheJarro]

Maybe if we were paid more, went on less "taxi rides", and dealt with actual emergencies we would have people who actually want to work in this line of work. But when we have to work 24s with overtime, be a taxi driver, and be able to be mentally, verbally, and physically abused it's not too worth it.

[xExquiSiTeYT]

Emt/paramedics are the basically the nurses/Doctors before the hospital setting, not sure why we are paid this way. Thankfully I am now a firefighter/emt working on getting my medic which will put me around 58k/year. Sad to say the day will come where someone calls an no one is there to respond unfortunately. That’s when the nation will hopefully open its eyes.

[kilonine]

I just finished school to be an EMT after 15 years of doing suicide intervention for veterans and first responders. In my area, I can start at $14.85 an hour, as well as give up my health, welfare, and many of my civil rights, or I can just go to Walmart in the same town and be a greeter for $15 an hour with the same benefits. With the mental and physical toll this career takes on people, there is no joke in the statement "How much is a life worth? $14.85 an hour...."

[Tootles]

I’m making $14 and some change as an Emt-B, and I can’t live like this as an adult.

I have to work overnight with $5 extra an hour for half my 12 hour shift. I don’t know how they expect adults to live like this. I have to work 6 days a week to keep up with my bills.

[stormgriffith]

I agree with most comments that will still surface and has surfaced - pay the people what they are worth. When youbare risking your life literally, then you should be compensated fairly.

[johnbartolik]

As someone who has worked in this profession for 25 years and is responsible for recruiting and hiring for the agency I work for, this is all absolutely true.

[vMEXI]

Passed the course, but didn’t pass the national exam on the first try… it honestly it surprises me how hard they made the exam for a minimum wage job that exploits its workers for the amount of work/calls they have to take. On top of it being a very stressful job compared to working as a hospital tech or any other 18/hr job. They should wake up.

[russelfetter]

I’m an EMT and I get paid 12 a hour for 911, the only reason I do this job is for clinical experience for med school. Most young ppl do this job for that type of reason. No reason for ppl to go into this career anymore

[drewochsner]

Just finished with college and officially became a certified EMT a week ago. Couldn’t be more excited to get on an ambulance