New Orleans EMS has been making headlines. But not for the reasons they SHOULD be making headlines. Bill Salmeron, the chief and director for New Orleans EMS joins me to tell me what New Orleans EMS is doing RIGHT, and acknowledging that whatever struggles New Orleans EMS has isn't a unique or localized problem. EMS is struggling. Not meeting response times is indicative of how outdated using response times as a benchmark of performance is to begin with. Recruitment and retention is a nationwide problem. Compensation is a nationwide problem. The social safety net that EMS becomes is not specific to New Orleans. But what IS specific to New Orleans is their early adoption of a blood/component program. They published the receipts and demonstrated how an EMS services rises above whatever challenges it faces and does right for the community it serves. Bill was also able to confirm that on the very day we recorded he secured increased compensation for his people!