I don't understand when people say it doesn't have a plot

that's the story but it has no plot points that forward the story..

It's just 2 hours of ambulance driving

It has an episodic structure with Frank on the streets with three different paramedics. He is trying to save one life and can't, until he finally does save one and takes away another. He wants forgiveness and redemption. It is a pretty tight story but it does not really follow any traditional plot. Scorsese himself said that only twice he dealt with films that had plots - Cape Fear and The Departed. He likes watching plotted films but not necessarily dealing with plots.

Bringing Out the Dead
http://jerrysaravia.blogspot.com/2014/01/underrated-black-humored-ambu lance-ride.html

All plots are stories, but not every story is necessarily a plot.

EM Forster illustrated the difference this way. He said "The King died, and then the Queen died" is a story, but that "The King died, and then the Queen died OF GRIEF" is a plot.

The difference? Causality. That is, the events in the tale being knitted together through cause and effect.

So yes, this movie might have a story, but it doesn't sound like it has a very tightly woven plot (Then again, many good films don't: DINER, for one; AMERICAN GRAFITTI for another)

Well, we can let everyone argue whether or not this film has a plot. Either way, I don't really care, this is just a great film.

Mary Burke is the character who drives the story, the whole plot takes place around her encounter with Frank, and his actions are greatly influenced by the meeting with her. She is the anchor of the film.

Also I am agree with the Bizarro Saints that the movie pace, bizarre encounters, the clutter and the chaos fit by some degree the atmosphere in healthcare.

I think it does have slightly more than just "a burnt out paramedic for a few shifts". he's not just burnt out, he's haunted by the people he failed to save, and feels like he can't save anyone anymore. he's struggling to save someone and keeps failing to. there are a couple of people that he kind of saves near the end, but he doesn't feel it. eventually, he realizes who he can save: Mary's dad. finally, he saves someone, and finally he can heal and help Mary to heal.

There's nothing wrong with a movie not having a well-rounded plot. The film is just a wild ride, full of meaning, straddling reality and fiction.