Ascension St. Vincent's
Medical Laboratory Science

• To provide students with a strong curriculum in clinical laboratory sciences using a variety of educational methods, resources and experiences.
• To maintain the level and quality of instruction in the clinical laboratory through the inclusion of the latest technologies.
• To provide students with professional role models so they may develop the professional attitudes and ethics necessary for a career in medical technology.
• To instill students with the motivation to continue their professional development.
• To provide the community with graduate medical technologists who can function at a career entry level and who can advance into leadership positions in the clinical laboratory sciences.

The essential functions (technical standards) are the essential non-academic requirements of the program. These functional capabilities are required in order to successfully participate in the program.

COMMUNICATION

The Medical Technology Student must be able to:

• Follow verbal and written instructions
• Communicate with faculty members, fellow students, laboratory staff and other health care professionals both verbally and in writing
• Clearly instruct patients prior to specimen collection
• Independently take examinations (written, practical, computer)

MOVEMENT

The Medical Technology Student must be able to:

• Move freely and safely around the laboratory
• Reach laboratory bench tops and shelves
• Reach patients (both lying and seated) and maneuver equipment for specimen collection
• Perform moderately taxing continuous physical work, often requiring prolonged standing or sitting, over several hours
• Perform fine hand manipulations with dexterity
• Use a computer keyboard

OBSERVATION

The Medical Technology Student must be able to:

• Read and comprehend text, numbers, and graphs displayed in print or on a video monitor
• Observe laboratory demonstrations
• Characterize the color, odor, clarity and viscosity of biologicals and laboratory chemicals/reagents
• Use a binocular microscope to discriminate among fine structural and color (hue, shading, and intensity) differences

Upon acceptance into the program the student will be required to sign a statement documenting that they have read and understand the essential functions of a Medical Laboratory Science student.

CAREER ENTRY COMPETENCIES

Upon completion of the Program a graduate is expected to meet the following career entry competencies:

• Safely collect, handle, and process biological specimens for testing
• Accurately perform laboratory testing
• Analyze and interpret laboratory test data
• Recognize and identify problems, then take appropriate corrective action
• Monitor testing procedures, equipment and professional/technical competency using Quality Assurance methodologies
• Operate instrumentation properly, and perform appropriate preventive and corrective maintenance
• Adhere to all laboratory safety rules and regulations
• Use computers and laboratory software effectively
• Carry out the evaluation of new procedures and instruments
• Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct in ones contact with patients, laboratory personnel and other healthcare professionals
• Maintain confidentiality of patient test results
• Apply principles of educational methodology
• Apply principles of management