This isn't near St. Charles, but my recommendation is St. John's in Springfield, MO. The class is taught by Bob Page and has turned out some of the finest paramedics I have ever had the privilege of working with. Honestly, I lost my my desire to work in EMS when I moved away from Springfield to Little Rock where I've met some of the most incompetent people alive. I digress...
You'll get a well-rounded education including a trip to Ohio for a pig pathology perfusion lab. You'll get the opportunity to attend several symposiums at the local hospital, multi-lead medics, capnography, and more clinicals then you can imagine in every department of the hospital. His program is pretty tough, but if you're willing to learn, he's willing to teach. I understand he now has one of the new mannequins that does the heart sounds, lung sounds, vital signs, etc. Last I heard he was attempting to turn one of the old ambulances into it's own scenario classroom as well. Oh, and your final exam consists is a written, essay format exam. He gives you six scenarios and you have to write your fingers off about how you'd treat, including possible complications and how you'd overcome those. You also have to attend an exit interview with the Medical Director.
It might sound a little intimidating. It's really not, and besides if you don't score a minimal amount on the reading, writing, mathematics, and psychological exam you don't get accepted anyway.
The best part of his program is the ability to transfer the core paramedic credits to SBU. It's a university just north of Springfield in some little town I can't remember the name of. The fact that you can take this class, take general education classes and obtain a degree is major plus.
Good Luck.
