Student Manual - Medical Laboratory Technician Program

PLEDGE TO THE PROFESSIONAs a clinical laboratory professional, I strive to: Maintain and promote standards of excellence in performing and advancing the art andscience of my professionPreserve the dignity and privacy of othersUphold and maintain the dignity and respect of our professionSeek to establish cooperative and respectful working relationships with other healthprofessionalsContribute to the general well being of the communityI will actively demonstrate my commitment to these responsibilities throughout my professionallife.(The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science)ESSENTIAL FUNCTI ONSIn addition to the academic admission requirements for students entering the MLT Program, thefollowing Essential Functions are also expected of all students: Students must be able to visualize objects through a microscope and differentiatecolor, shape and structure of organisms and cells. Students must be able to detectcolor changes on reagent strips and during chemical analyses.Students must possess sufficient motor skills and manual dexterity to obtain andmanipulate specimens, reagents, glassware, instruments and equipment withaccuracy, speed and precision in such a manner that does not endanger themselvesand others.Students must possess effective written and oral communication skills in order toaccurately transmit information to patients, physicians and other healthcareprofessionals. Students must possess the ability to read and write in English.Students must demonstrate professional attitudes and behaviors. Students must beable to use reasonable judgment under stressful conditions to make decisions thatimpact patient care. Students must be able to work independently as a member of ateam to maintain the highest standards in the delivery of patient care.Students must be able to move easily from one location to another in the Laboratoryto do testing and through patient areas to perform phlebotomy.Students must be able to fulfill these essential functions of the job without endangering patientsor other health care workers. Students with disabilities may be eligible for accommodations. Priorto the start of the Program, students may contact the Director of Services for Students withDisabilities in the Disability Services Center, College Hall 225, at 215-641-6575 for moreinformation. At the West Campus, contact the Coordinator of Disability Services in South Hall at610-718-1853.P:\mlt\MLT Student Manual 5-20214

THE INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMMISSION STATEM ENTIt is the mission of the MLT Program to respond to the needs of the community by educatingstudents to perform a wide variety of clinical laboratory procedures and prepare these studentsto perform competently as Medical Laboratory Technicians upon graduation.PHILOSOPHYMedical Laboratory Technicians must function in many different situations and at various levelsof responsibility in increasingly complex laboratories. In order to provide students with the greatestpotential for effective performance and professional growth, traditional academic courses andspecialized laboratory courses are integrated into a total educational experience.GENERAL OBJECTI VES /GOALSThe MLT Program is designed to prepare graduates who can-collect and prepare clinical specimens for analysisoperate, perform quality control and maintain laboratory instrumentsperform a variety of diagnostic analyses according to prescribed methodologymonitor and assess the quality of data generatedrecognize problems which may occur during testing and perform basic repair onlaboratory equipmentdescribe principles, reactions, and reagents for each method studiedrelate test results to other patient information to the extent required for understandingthe analysesdemonstrate behavior and attitudes consistent with those of laboratory professionalsSpecific learning objectives for each course, lesson and clinic assignment are derived from thesegeneral objectives and the Statements of Competence. (See Appendices C-G.)CURRICULUMThe MLT curriculum is planned as a comprehensive program in which the clinical and didacticcomponents are coordinated in a cumulative four-semester experience. Credit is awarded for acombination of liberal arts courses, basic science courses, clinical laboratory science courses andclinical laboratory experience. Students are referred to the current college catalog for detailedprogram and course descriptions. Students must complete the course of study outlined in thecatalog in effect during the semester in which they were admitted to the program. Substitution ofrequired courses is by permission of the Program Director only.Completion of the program via part-time study is possible, and is especially desirable for studentswho must work or who have family obligations. It is recommended that in this case students takegeneral education courses prior to enrolling in the MLT courses to extend the curriculum over agreater number of semesters.P:\mlt\MLT Student Manual 5-20215

The curriculum is a closely structured unit combining sequential and cumulative courses with nontraditional clinical experience. Because of this structure, it is strongly recommended that studentsanticipate completing their MLT courses in the four consecutive semesters immediately precedingtheir application for certification. For students whose progression through the MLT courses isinterrupted by academic or personal difficulties, there is no guarantee that space will be availablewhen they want or are allowed to return. Students are urged to balance their academic abilitieswith their financial needs when planning their studies. MLT Faculty are available to advisestudents. Employment during the academic year is strongly discouraged because of the difficultyof the curriculum.SERVICE AS CLI NICAL SUBJECTSStudents in MLT courses may occasionally be required to act as subjects for laboratory tests suchas venipuncture, capillary puncture, bleeding time, and urinalysis. Only students withdocumented medical reasons will be excused from such practice. Students who refuse toparticipate will incur lowered grades.CLINI C PROGRESSIONClinical placements have always been available for all students who enrolled in the MLT Programprior to the COVID pandemic. Students who have progressed to the sophomore year withoutinterruption in course sequence or timeframe due to academic or personal difficulties havealways, in the past, been assured of placement at the clinic. The number of clinical placesavailable depends upon the capacity of the laboratories at the affiliated hospitals. Every attemptwill be made to place students at an affiliated hospital for the sophomore year. For studentswhose progression was interrupted by academic or personal difficulties, they will be placed insophomore clinic if a clinic position is available. First priority goes to those students who haveprogressed to the sophomore year without interruption. Second semester clinic sophomoresreturn to school one week earlier in January than other students. Students may visit a series ofenrichment sites throughout this semester.CLINI C ASSIGNMENT GUIDELI NESIf the number of students who are eligible for clinic exceeds the number of clinic site seatsavailable during a given academic year, students will be ranked and assigned using the followingcriteria:1.Full-time students will be given priority over part-time students.2.Grade point average – those with higher grade point averages will be given preferenceover those meeting the minimum matriculation requirements.3.Number of credits completed within the MLT curriculum – those with the greatest numberwill be given priority.4.Length of time students are on wait list for clinical practicum – students on the waitlist fora longer period of time will be given preference.P:\mlt\MLT Student Manual 5-20216

TRANSFERThis curriculum is designed as a two-year terminal degree career program. Students whoanticipate transferring to upper division programs should see an advisor as soon as possible todiscuss the transferability of credits. Information about upper-level CLS programs is available inthe MLT office, in the Student Success Center in College Hall, and presented in a seminar as partof the curriculum.POLICY ON PROGRAM DISMISSALEffective Fall, 1992Revised May, 2018This policy applies to the following O141BIO2411.If a student receives a grade of less than "C"*, the student must repeat the course andearn a grade of "C" or better. No course may be taken more than two times withoutpermission of the Program Director.2.If a student receives two grades of less than "C"*, the student will be dismissed from theprogram due to unsatisfactory academic performance.* A "W" will be treated as a grade less than "C" if at the time of withdrawal the student wasearning a grade less than "C".A student will only be considered for readmission to the program upon written request to theProgram Director.Students must complete the MLT program within four academic years once they are admitted intoMLT 110.NON-ACADEMIC POLICIESSAFETYBecause students will be exposed to a variety of hazards (e.g., infectious agents, chemicals, etc.)throughout the program, safety is heavily emphasized in course instruction. Through propereducation, risks to students are minimized. Students who have questions about the risk of AIDS,hepatitis, etc. should contact the faculty. Students are responsible for purchasing safetygoggles. (See Appendix N for Program Safety Procedures.)Students are responsible for knowing and following all laboratory safety procedures both at theCollege and at the Clinic Site as long as they are enrolled in the Program. Safety is taught as partof the curriculum. Students will be required to sign a Safety Contract prior to beginning thelaboratory component of MLT 110. Procedures unique to a clinic site, such as those for isolationP:\mlt\MLT Student Manual 5-20217

rooms or nurseries, are taught at the clinical site. Students must speak English in the studentlaboratory or clinical site at all times so that instructors can assist students quickly in anemergency.LABORATORY ACCI DENTSAnyone involved in a laboratory accident must document the incident. A standard accident reportform must be completed. Forms are available in the MLT office. Accident reports must be returnedto the Program Director who will then contact Public Safety. Students will be provided informationon baseline testing, treatment, etc. related to the exposure. All accident report forms are filed inthe student file in the MLT office and the office of Public Safety.Students are expected to report all injuries involving biohazardous materials. The personsupervising the student will provide first aid and contact the Program Director who will carry outthe procedures established in the “Student, Employee and Patient Occupational Exposure Policy.”A copy of this Plan will be distributed to each student during orientation. Students will sign anacknowledgement form indicating they have received a copy of this document. Theacknowledgement form will be kept in their files. Every effort will be made to assure confidentialityof records. Information will be released only when appropriate authorization is obtained.LIABILITY INSURANCEStudents are required to purchase professional liability insurance and to show proof of coveragefor each semester they are registered in MLT clinical courses. Information and applications areprovided to students beginning their sophomore year by the Program Director during the summerprior to the start of MLT 235.UNIFORM SUniforms must be worn for all MLT laboratory courses on campus, in the clinical site, and duringall enrichment site visits. MLT students will wear a standard uniform of black scrub pants andtops. The goal remains to ensure that MLT student attire reflects the tradition of “professionalappearance” and reco

institution is a requirement of most examinations which certify laboratory personnel. NAACLS is a nonprofit organization that independently accredits doctorate in clinical laboratory science (DCLS), medical laboratory scientist (ML