Comments on: Paramedic School Hit By CWI Competition

By: Just a Thought

Just a Thought — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 21:37:42 +0000

I have yet to see a quality paramedic come out of a fast track program.(although I am sure there are rare exceptions) Unless you have had YEARS of prior EMS experience….or a seasoned Army Medic, there is no way in hell anyone can stuff that amount of knowledge in your brain let alone be proficient at it. Year programs produce a much better quality medics…..without question!

By: Old Guy

Old Guy — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 00:29:43 +0000

Seems like a paramedic-factory to me. What Ms. Sturkie also failed to report is that her husband is an ER physician and the former medical director of Ada County Paramedics and current serves on the advisory board for Ada County Paramedics. Kinda seems like a conflict of interest to me. No wonder they are upset over CWI getting involved ruining their “98% job placement rating”.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 19:10:31 +0000

Loralei…Interesting web site, do you sell vacuum cleaners also?. I didn’t see much about your ems intructors list on real world experience. You covered Personnal Trainers well.

By: Old-Dog

Old-Dog — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 05:29:44 +0000

Over the last year or so I have read the debate about paramedics working for the City of Boise or Ada County….who should be able to put a person in an ambulance…who should drive an ambulance….how the ambulance should be painted. Some of the debate seemed silly…other parts of it seemed eye opening. The one constant on both sides of the debate was the medical aspect of how paramedics work. Something I believe many people never thought about.
Now the debate will shift to government vs private business training of paramedics. I wonder how the debate will play out on this subject.
All that being said, if good medicine is truly the constant for both sides of this debate, then I respectively say Ms. Sturkie………how embarrassing for you…….the fact you wrote in your letter….
“my college specializes in fast training that enables students to become job-ready in months instead of years.”
Exactly what I want….a person who was ‘fast-trained’ through medical education. Sounds great!! I don’t know if I would like my Doctor being ‘fast-trained’ through a program. Perhaps the debate should not be government vs private. Maybe it should be do we want ‘fast-trained’ people working in any aspect of medicine…..

By: Loralei

Loralei — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 21:06:02 +0000

Flatlander,
My husband did not teach classes for either Ada County or Kuna. If you will take a closer look at the beginning of my article, I specifically mention that because of the clout of EMS agencies nationwide who teach paramedic programs, the most expensive part of accreditation (becoming an accredited school) was removed from the requirements for agencies. I have expressed to National Registry that the policy was unfair, especially when those agencies were taking money from private students. The headline referencing CWI was not my doing; I refer to government entities in general.

By: Flatlander

Flatlander — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 06:58:31 +0000

Ms. Sturkie, why don’t you disclose that you are married to Dr. Sturkie, one of the medical directors for Ada County Paramedics and also medical director for Eagle Fire’s EMT’s? Where is the outrage at Kuna FD running their own paramedic classes, now in session. Where was the outrage when Ada County ran their own paramedic classes to upgrade the EMT-B’ and EMT-I’s. Oh that’s right, your husband taught some of the classes for that program. There is way more here than meets the eye.

By: antiphobe

antiphobe — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 18:31:47 +0000

I’m no supporter of guvmint unfairly competing against private enterprise (see previous Guardian story regarding Land Board storage unit business) but I gotta say this smacks of whining. Loralei if your program is better and gets students employed faster with quicker payback then I bet they will find a way to attend your school vs. CWI. If anything maybe they (CWI) have done you a favor by proving how much better your program is?

By: Loralei

Loralei — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:57:59 +0000

Fiona, this is true ONLY when a college has been accredited and is approved for federal financial aid. They are allowed to fund up to 90% of their tuition that way. Larger schools expand by opening branch campuses; they can use their existing accreditation temporarily. The problem is that the system has been stacked against emerging schools. When we were accredited, we were told that we were the first new school in years to apply. Idaho’s increased regulatory burden further hinders the development of new and innovative career education programs.

By: Cyclops

Cyclops — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 06:25:27 +0000

Eventually we will reach the point when CWI will go to the legislature for additional funding. When the committee members ask how they can justify additional monies, they will be quick to point out that they are “supplying paramedic training throughout the southern portion of the state” Then they will whine that without the funding the people will “suffer a loss of adequate training for life support”. The county has been sticking it to private paramedic services for years! Why would we be surprised when the state does it as well?

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 05:44:06 +0000

I would say the cost of CWI vs. Guardian college is the big difference, especially for my 19 year old. Correct me if I’m wrong, the the guardian cost about 10000 dollars. That is a big hurdle for my teenager that wants to be a paramedic. CWI would be a more realistic and take his AP classes for credit toward fulfilling a degree. I think paramedic programs are few and far between in Idaho and the more quality choices the better.
Someone how wants the fast track or someone how wants a long route, now there are options. Choice is always better.