Direct quote from an experienced EMS educator from a nationally respected paramedic education program:
“He will be a good
medic if he can forget the crap he learned during his 12 years as an EMT
in a [unnamed Eastern Seaboard state] service.”
From the comments in this post and the podcast page and related Facebook threads, seems a great many EMS folks think experience as an EMT is a must-have for paramedic school.
Everyone, that is, except the experienced EMS educators responsible for turning out capable, well-rounded EMTs, and turning other EMTs into medics. That number includes a bunch of nationally respected EMS educators and textbook authors.
Most of them are on my side, which understands that not all street experience is beneficial, and is most often a handicap in paramedic school, not a help.