When I was proctoring a class, one of the scenarios I had play out was an intoxicated patient who needed to be restrained so they could provide treatment for a dislocated shoulder (have fun with that one!). I took the biggest guy in class and made him the patient, then I had crews of 3 using the restraint techniques they learned in class (along with splinting methods) to restrain him as he flailed around the room screaming and shouting. It was not only entertaining, but it gave the students an opportunity to put the techniques they learned in class into use.

Bernie Squitieri started off in the taxi business, imagining driving kids to school or riders to the mall, not shuttling the elderly to doctor's appointments. But when he moved his business to Arnold, MO that's exactly what he was doing. About this same time, Missouri implemented a managed health care program and federal Medicaid regulations mandated that the state provide transportation for eligible recipients to and from health providers.

Squitieri saw an opportunity. He launched Express Medical Transporters in March 1996 and soon after it became the state's largest for-profit, non-emergency transportation company. Today in St. Louis, EMT operates more than 170 vehicles, employs more than 200 employees and does more than 500,000 transports each year. In these dour economic times, EMT had its best year ever in 2008 with revenue surpassing $6 million.

In October 2007, EMT launched a franchising program. With an ever-increasing senior population EMT offers countless revenue streams to its franchisees. A new Student Transportation Division is dedicated to providing routed and individual transportation for school districts.

While experience in transportation, healthcare or logistics is helpful, industry experience is not required. "We teach our franchise owners everything they need to be successful," Squitieri said. "We'll teach you the transportation industry and how to grow your business."

With EMT having proven its success and viability in the St. Louis metropolitan market, Squitieri said a research firm identified 157 additional markets throughout the country with similar non-emergency transportation needs. In fact, Squitieri said organizations and potential clients across the country contact EMT on a regular basis asking about expansion to their area.

"It's really an attractive selling point to tell somebody that if you buy an EMT franchise, you could have business before you open your doors," Squitieri said. "There aren't many businesses that are in that position today." For more information on EMT or to start your own franchise please visit emtusa.net.