Good Paramedic Schools

[LilMedic04]

I'm currently in EMT-B school, and am looking forward to going on for my Paramedic. Do you know of any good Paramedic schools in the St. Louis, MO area?
I'm currently going through St. Louis Community College, but the next rotation they have is at a campus really far from me.

Thanks for you help!!

[kghemtp]

Welcome to this great profession. You're very eager based on your posting here, though you're not the first to get so far ahead of yourself. While the academics might allow you to barely slide through a rigorous paramedic program, you absolutely can't go right from B to P without experience. How much experience? Give it a couple years at least, and get truly comfortable with the Basic skills before you try to load more on top of that. In your Basic class, it is probably taught that every call comes down to the ABC's, meaning the very basics of patient care. Master that, do it for a while, decide if EMS is where you're meant to be, and then start looking into paramedic programs. Unfortunately I can't offer any recommendations of schools in your area, but the above input should help some in your journey of getting there. Oh, and do a search here on Firehouse for paramedic programs, things for Basics, jobs in EMS, volunteering, just to name a few. Good luck!

[montet202]

Ditto. Become an excellent EMT then go to medic school.

[KeryserSoze]

I am in the same boat. I'm an EMT-B considering Paramedic training in the future. There seems to be a big difference in the local, Philly area schools. For example, one school is two years and cost over eight thousand dollars. Another is 13 months and costs $1500. What is the difference in these programs that could justify the huge difference in cost? I do not have the option of taking a full time course so I would have to take a part time course.

I enjoy being an EMT but still need a lot more experience.

Also, at 35 , I would like to know if medic squads have age limits on hiring like fire departments do.

[montet202]

For example, one school is two years and cost over eight thousand dollars. Another is 13 months and costs $1500. What is the difference in these programs that could justify the huge difference in cost? I enjoy being an EMT but still need a lot more experience.

Also, at 35 , I would like to know if medic squads have age limits on hiring like fire departments do.

Some has to do with the class being private or for profit, or part of a University/Community College. Part of it is who they ride with. Some agencies charge either schools or students a pretty fare fee to jump on board. Some has to do with it's speakers. If you want good MDs to lecture the price tag goes up, but the didactic content becomes more valuable.

I think having gone through it myself and watching my live-in girlfreind go through a different one (mine university based, and hers a profitable business) it seems what you learn is what you want to put into it, but the clinical and ride experience is what will seperate them. Find out where they ride, go down and ride for a day at each facility from each school you are looking into and figure out which of the services will provide for a better learning environment. Look at call volume, if the ALS cars are doing interfacility transports or BLS transports, etc. You don't as a medic student want to spend a lot of time with non emergent patients. And find preceptors that WANT to teach.

2-cents...

OH Yeh...one of my classmates who has turned out to be an excellent medic was 41 when he finnished.

[kghemtp]

Difference in programs? I'll echo what montet said and add that some programs are more geared toward those who have considerable time & experience in EMS who won't need as much focus on the basics. Other programs (often longer) will spend more time making sure new medics have the strongest basic skills, and that coupled with the extensive medic modules makes for a longer program.

As for your age, I'd consider that an asset because you will bring maturity that can often be lacking in a kid right out of high school (not to say there aren't great 20 year old paramedics, as I have known a couple). One of my most respected colleagues became a paramedic in her early 60's. Another guy in my program had retired as chief from the fire service and wanted to pursue medicine, so at age 55 he became a paramedic. Makes me wonder how old the oldest practicing paramedic is (anyone know where Johnny & Roy are?!?).

[LilMedic04]

Wow. I'm only 20yrs old, soon to be 21. This schooling change is recent for me, seeing as how I was going for my nursing degree. I just decided that it wasn't for me, I couldn't stand being inside that environment for too long.
I'm LOVING my clinical time, best stuff ever. All the medics I've worked with have pegged me to be older than what I am, so I do have the maturity factor going.
Anyway, I wouldn't see a problem with your age. A guy in my EMT class just turned 30, and he's doing great!! Besides, age is just a number, right? LOL.

[rscamaro73]

KeryserSoze - I'd be interested inany info you could pass on the medic schools. Been looking for info but its pretty hard....

Thanks.

waynejorgensen AT gmail DOT com

[KeryserSoze]

I've pretty much been looking at the Montgomery County program. The next class starts in June or July.

[nsom9ac]

Just finished emt-b program and will take practicals in a few weeks. The last few weeks of classes i was picking my instructors brain asking what seemed to be hundreds of questions trying to figure out which direction i should go. He's been a medic for 20+ years and manages an ems district about 45 mins from STL city. He recommended the medic program at Jefferson county (www.jeffco.edu). It's a community college so it's not overly expensive and he said he's hired some good people that took that program. I took the emt-b at IHM (www.ihmhealthstudies.edu) which is part of Abbott. It's kinda expensive since it's private, but it's decent. The instructors and admin staff will go out of their way to help you succeed, including coming in for additional skills practice whether they get paid or not. I'm gonna take the medic program at IHM for a couple reasons, but mostly the scheduling works better for me than the one at Jeffco. Hit me up if you wanna chat sometime, sounds like we're in about the same place. Either way, good luck.