Break into CRM with PrepMD?

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Anonymous

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I see a new CRM training school is up and running, PrepMD.org is their website. Looks like someone is finally giving ATI some competition. I looked into it, their inaugural class of 16 all have been hired except for 1 I think (they just graduated like a month and a half ago).

What are your guys thoughts? I am already in CRM but am constantly being asked by people how to get in and I just say ATI....any inside knowledge on the founders Bob Mattioli, Matt O'neal or their main instructor...Tom Kenny? I think Bob and Matt are BSCI people from a little while ago and Tom I think has been all over the place predominantly St. Jude.

They have a new class of 23 students going right now, they have been going for about a month. Im interested in seeing how this takes off. They are about 5 grand more than ATI but they are also a shorter program.

what do you guys think?
 


PrepMD is a great program. ATI has the historical track record but I think PrepMD is worth the extra money for a few reasons. Number 1, get training in the Boston area or South Carolina? Students will get a much better exposure in the Boston teaching institutions. Number 2, Tom Kenney is probably the best CRM trainer in the US (in my humble opinion). I came into the business with GDT and I still have Tom's Intermedics pacemaker timing cycle training DVD's in my office. Number 3, you won't find a better "connected" CRM guy than Matt O'Neal. He put ICD therapy on the map in the toughest New England markets, and he's one of the best CRM networkers in the business.
 


Anonymous said:
PrepMD is a great program. ATI has the historical track record but I think PrepMD is worth the extra money for a few reasons. Number 1, get training in the Boston area or South Carolina? Students will get a much better exposure in the Boston teaching institutions. Number 2, Tom Kenney is probably the best CRM trainer in the US (in my humble opinion). I came into the business with GDT and I still have Tom's Intermedics pacemaker timing cycle training DVD's in my office. Number 3, you won't find a better "connected" CRM guy than Matt O'Neal. He put ICD therapy on the map in the toughest New England markets, and he's one of the best CRM networkers in the business.
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The reason their program is shorter is so they can run 2 programs per year. You're paying 5k more for less classroom and case/clinic time.

As for the Boston area teaching institutions, I doubt Mass General or Brigham really want a bunch of pacer students in their labs when they also have EP and cardiology fellows, med students, nursing students, etc.

Also, hospitals and physicians don't just open up their labs or clinics for strangers to come in. ATI has longstanding relationships which make it a lot easier. Hospital access is getting more and more difficult for vendors with RepTrax, Vendormate, VendoClear, etc, and with Joint Commision and other regulatory entitities, I have seen more than a few people escorted out for not having proper ID and credentialing. And these are people who, for the most part, are asked to be there.

It's much easier to get in to see cases in smaller hospitals in outlying areas. You also get better experience in these settings because you're depended on more. The rep is the "expert". You usually have less interaction in a teaching institution because the fellows are asked all of the questions and do the troubleshooting, the rep is just there to run the PSA.

Another thing to consider besides the difficulty getting in to see cases is the difficulty getting to cases. Hopefully PrepMD is focused more outside of Boston than in the city, otherwise, good luck just finding your way there, much less a parking space.


With all that being said, keep all the yankees up there, the last thing we want is more of them in the south. It looks like everyone on their website wants to interview for a job in the Carolinas or Atlanta. No thanks, we're full up down here until half the states of NJ, Ohio, PA, and NY get the hell out.
 




Anonymous said:
You guys are hysterical! I've gotten such great insight from peeking in on this totally candid conversation.
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You're all idiots. If you want a job with BSC CRV or HIV or STD or whatever the hell they're calling it, you either need to be a West Point grad or damn good pharma rep or the son or college roomate of an EP. Other than that, you chumps can FORGET IT. ATI and PrepMD are for losers who want to waste their $$$$$. $25,000. You'd be better off taking 5000 cash in a paper bag to your interview and saving the other 20000 in case you get hired so you can pay implanters to put your recalled crap in.
 


This program is a complete waste of money. If you have any talent you should be able to network yourself and get in front of the hiring mangers of these companies. My advice is to bank the $25K and spend the time yourself to meet the people who work for the CRM companies.
The program is way too expensive and you get the same training once you get hired.
 


Anonymous said:
PrepMD is a great program. ATI has the historical track record but I think PrepMD is worth the extra money for a few reasons. Number 1, get training in the Boston area or South Carolina? Students will get a much better exposure in the Boston teaching institutions. Number 2, Tom Kenney is probably the best CRM trainer in the US (in my humble opinion). I came into the business with GDT and I still have Tom's Intermedics pacemaker timing cycle training DVD's in my office. Number 3, you won't find a better "connected" CRM guy than Matt O'Neal. He put ICD therapy on the map in the toughest New England markets, and he's one of the best CRM networkers in the business.
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this is clearly written by one of the doucher's at PrepMD trying to market their shit
 


Anonymous said:
You're all idiots. If you want a job with BSC CRV or HIV or STD or whatever the hell they're calling it, you either need to be a West Point grad or damn good pharma rep or the son or college roomate of an EP. Other than that, you chumps can FORGET IT. ATI and PrepMD are for losers who want to waste their $$$$$. $25,000. You'd be better off taking 5000 cash in a paper bag to your interview and saving the other 20000 in case you get hired so you can pay implanters to put your recalled crap in.
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hahahha this is awesome, 5 grand in a paper bag would totally work for half these cocksucker RM's here
 




Anonymous said:
What a waste of money. Its not even worth commenting about this useless program.
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Well you did leave a comment so what does that say about you?

ATI and PrepMD are both great programs to get in. Yeah so what if you have to shell out some cash, it will get you a kickass job that you otherwise wouldn't have gotten. You can finally quit your job shoveling elephant shit and get to actually watch real people shit their pants.

Now, the placement at PrepMD I believe is taking a dive, this would make me hesitant to attend. I don't know the numbers but they have a lot of graduated students still riding the pine "put me in coach!"
 


Anonymous said:
You're all idiots. If you want a job with BSC CRV or HIV or STD or whatever the hell they're calling it, you either need to be a West Point grad or damn good pharma rep or the son or college roomate of an EP. Other than that, you chumps can FORGET IT. ATI and PrepMD are for losers who want to waste their $$$$$. $25,000. You'd be better off taking 5000 cash in a paper bag to your interview and saving the other 20000 in case you get hired so you can pay implanters to put your recalled crap in.
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THAT is a funny post, but this is not the biotronik or St jude board.....
 


Save the $$$ on PrepMD. The future of the cardiac space is LAA and TAVI. Get educated as an RT or ET. Being able to understand flouroscopy/echocardiography inside & out will position you as an invaluable resource in the cath lab.
 


Anonymous said:
The reason their program is shorter is so they can run 2 programs per year. You're paying 5k more for less classroom and case/clinic time.

As for the Boston area teaching institutions, I doubt Mass General or Brigham really want a bunch of pacer students in their labs when they also have EP and cardiology fellows, med students, nursing students, etc.

Also, hospitals and physicians don't just open up their labs or clinics for strangers to come in. ATI has longstanding relationships which make it a lot easier. Hospital access is getting more and more difficult for vendors with RepTrax, Vendormate, VendoClear, etc, and with Joint Commision and other regulatory entitities, I have seen more than a few people escorted out for not having proper ID and credentialing. And these are people who, for the most part, are asked to be there.

It's much easier to get in to see cases in smaller hospitals in outlying areas. You also get better experience in these settings because you're depended on more. The rep is the "expert". You usually have less interaction in a teaching institution because the fellows are asked all of the questions and do the troubleshooting, the rep is just there to run the PSA.

Another thing to consider besides the difficulty getting in to see cases is the difficulty getting to cases. Hopefully PrepMD is focused more outside of Boston than in the city, otherwise, good luck just finding your way there, much less a parking space.


With all that being said, keep all the yankees up there, the last thing we want is more of them in the south. It looks like everyone on their website wants to interview for a job in the Carolinas or Atlanta. No thanks, we're full up down here until half the states of NJ, Ohio, PA, and NY get the hell out.
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Yes, a track record and established relationships is important in delivering max face time with implanters in the lab. ATI definitely delivers on this level. The highly-esteemed Boston area labs are already crammed full with visiting faculty and fellows -- especially the teachiing institutions. In short, you wanna run with a program that gives you the greatest exposure to implant centers and follow-up clinics, ATI hands down.

A bigger question is whether the opportunity costs of participating in either program is truly worth the expense in this non-growth device market that faces increased cost pressures and greater competitive pressure. the big 3 are reducing head count, not expanding, Bro's
 


My husband completed this program last year. I have to say, this turned out to be a bad investment for us, even given his extensive pharma background. I say try your hand at orthopedics (the lowest form of medical sales) for a year or two and then move up. Wasting $35,000 (yes, it has gone up) might not be the best investment, especially in this economy.
 


Anonymous said:
My husband completed this program last year. I have to say, this turned out to be a bad investment for us, even given his extensive pharma background. I say try your hand at orthopedics (the lowest form of medical sales) for a year or two and then move up. Wasting $35,000 (yes, it has gone up) might not be the best investment, especially in this economy.
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Man, that sucks...sorry to hear that. I would say this, though, going the Ortho route is a waste, too. Here's how I see it.

1) CRM is changing (dying).
2) Therefore, companies are laying folks off. Fully trained and certified CRM talent too expensive to keep around in this market of declining ASPs.
3) College kids need jobs, have relatively lower income demands and are eager to "break in".
4) Your husband and the ortho reps are competing against these laid off CRM folks and these college kids for a dwindling supply of jobs.

Its only going to get worse as remote follow up technology becomes remote reprogramming technology, and device clinics move away from their reliance on field reps and hire device nurses or throw that on someone at the clinic already.
 


Anonymous said:
Man, that sucks...sorry to hear that. I would say this, though, going the Ortho route is a waste, too. Here's how I see it.

1) CRM is changing (dying).
2) Therefore, companies are laying folks off. Fully trained and certified CRM talent too expensive to keep around in this market of declining ASPs.
3) College kids need jobs, have relatively lower income demands and are eager to "break in".
4) Your husband and the ortho reps are competing against these laid off CRM folks and these college kids for a dwindling supply of jobs.

Its only going to get worse as remote follow up technology becomes remote reprogramming technology, and device clinics move away from their reliance on field reps and hire device nurses or throw that on someone at the clinic already.
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Hospitals and clinics will wind-up hiring a few device specialists and the companies will encourage them to do that. The day of the Industry CS is numbered. Reps will not be allowed into cases as they hospital employee will support implants. A new world is coming. Not sure if better or worse, but it won't be the same
 


Anonymous said:
My husband completed this program last year. I have to say, this turned out to be a bad investment for us, even given his extensive pharma background. I say try your hand at orthopedics (the lowest form of medical sales) for a year or two and then move up. Wasting $35,000 (yes, it has gone up) might not be the best investment, especially in this economy.
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Its been a bad investment for a lot of people. How many grads from the most recent class actually got a job? Less than 50 percent? 30 percent?
 




Anonymous said:
Actually 91% did.....check your facts.
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Okay... 91% found jobs. On day 1 they are $35,000 (not including their expenses for being out of town for quite a while) in the hole only to get a job making...$50K, $60K, maybe $75K. The previous poster is right especially if you are younger, willing to lower your expectations and work your way up over a few years... start at an entry level medical sales career. Prove yourself and your worth and you will move up fairly easily.
 





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