For Profit Colleges Enter EMS Education

November 28, 2004

Our editors and marketing people have been telling me for 2 years that the

for profit colleges (i.e., Devry, Unitek) will be entering the EMS market

and, I guess, they have. Unitek will be offering a fully-accredited, 2-week

EMT-B course in Austin, Dallas and San (among other cities). The

playing field in EMS education is about to change. A paramedic program is in

the planning stages.

http://www.unitekcollege.com/emt/fasttrack.php

E. Bledsoe, DO, FACEP

Midlothian, TX

http://www.bryanbledsoe.com

November 28, 2004

-- lnmolino@... wrote:

" Let's say I feel safer knowing I live in Texas and not PA. "

We have been through the 'shake and bake' medic phase, and frankly, I was

underwhelmed by the quality of the majority (NOT ALL)of the product. Some got

better and prospered, some got frustrated and left. It was the individual that

made the difference.

I would prefer to see the students better set up for success, than viewed just

as admission fees, regardless of the type of program.

Larry RN LP

Operations Manager

Maxxim Care EMS, Spring

November 28, 2004

-- lnmolino@... wrote:

" Let's say I feel safer knowing I live in Texas and not PA. "

We have been through the 'shake and bake' medic phase, and frankly, I was

underwhelmed by the quality of the majority (NOT ALL)of the product. Some got

better and prospered, some got frustrated and left. It was the individual that

made the difference.

I would prefer to see the students better set up for success, than viewed just

as admission fees, regardless of the type of program.

Larry RN LP

Operations Manager

Maxxim Care EMS, Spring

November 28, 2004

-- lnmolino@... wrote:

" Let's say I feel safer knowing I live in Texas and not PA. "

We have been through the 'shake and bake' medic phase, and frankly, I was

underwhelmed by the quality of the majority (NOT ALL)of the product. Some got

better and prospered, some got frustrated and left. It was the individual that

made the difference.

I would prefer to see the students better set up for success, than viewed just

as admission fees, regardless of the type of program.

Larry RN LP

Operations Manager

Maxxim Care EMS, Spring

November 28, 2004

Yikes. I think you lose something by cramming a three-month course

into two weeks. That's insane. What about " soaking " time? How do

they " gaurantee " one of their students will pass the NR? Do they

refund the money if the person doesn't pass? If so, that sort of

takes away a form of motivation to study. They told me in my first

class that you don't get any money back after that first class, even

if you flunk out. $600 later, and one week from the end of class,

(with two exams to go) I have no intention of not passing my NR.

If I was given the choice between two weeks or three months to

certification, I'd choose three months. This isn't information you

can master in two weeks, particularly if you don't have any medical

background (like me). What do they do about ER rotations and

ride-outs? I did 20 hrs in the ER and am scheduled to do 48 on the

truck.

I'll be the first to admit that I know nothing about how EMS is REALLY

done; I'm still in my " bright-eyed " phase, but it seems like people

that take a two-week course, regardless of any " gaurantees " made, are

getting seriously screwed.

Just my $.01. (it's not $.02 until I pass my NR and get some

experience under my belt)

-

> Our editors and marketing people have been telling me for 2 years

that the

> for profit colleges (i.e., Devry, Unitek) will be entering the EMS

market

> and, I guess, they have. Unitek will be offering a fully-accredited,

2-week

> EMT-B course in Austin, Dallas and San (among other cities). The

> playing field in EMS education is about to change. A paramedic

program is in

> the planning stages.

>

> http://www.unitekcollege.com/emt/fasttrack.php

>

> E. Bledsoe, DO, FACEP

> Midlothian, TX

> http://www.bryanbledsoe.com

>

November 28, 2004