Program Goals, Objectives, and Competencies

During the year-long program, the main goal is to transform qualified students into medical professionals who can apply scientific principles and techniques to the vital role that laboratory science plays in the Hospital and healthcare environment.

Other goals of the program include developing high-quality lab professionals committed to lifelong learning, staying abreast of new developments, and having the flexibility to adapt to a changing profession.

Objectives

Medical Laboratory Scientists are competent in a great variety of procedures and job functions. Since the laboratory staff expects the student to meet certain standards at job-entry level, the objectives of the program are those which will allow the student to meet those standards. After the completion of the one-year program in the School of Medical Lab Science, the student will:

• State the importance of the clinical laboratory and the part it plays in the diagnosis and treatment of the patient.
• Perform proficiently routine laboratory procedures and some specialized procedures.
• Add new procedures and duties to his/her repertoire with ease using the basic knowledge acquired in the clinical program and will demonstrate the ability to read and understand a procedure manual in order to perform testing.
•  Judge the validity of laboratory results, confirm abnormal results, and integrate and relate data generated by various departments while making decisions regarding possible discrepancies in routine tests.
• Utilize quality control methods and standards in maintaining accuracy and precision.
• Perform some basic preventative maintenance of equipment and instruments.
• Evaluate new methods and procedures with minimal assistance by applying knowledge of principles, procedures, and techniques.
• Recognize a problem and identify the cause; apply the problem-solving approach to situations including making decisions concerning the results of quality control and quality assurance measures.
• Communicate ideas and data and exhibit professional conduct through interpersonal skills with patients, laboratory personnel, other health care professionals, and the public.
• Recognize the need to be responsible for his/her work and to respond to constructive criticism in a positive manner.
• Exhibit compassion and respect for the patient and allied health care personnel.
• Recognize the importance of information concerning the patient and realize that it should not be discussed indiscriminately.
• Attend continuing educational programs to establish and maintain continuing education as a function of growth and maintenance of professional competence.
• Follow established safety procedures in the performance of his/her laboratory duties in order to maintain a safe working environment for himself/herself and other laboratory employees.
•  Apply principles of current laboratory information systems.
•  Write simple procedures for collecting, processing and analyzing biological specimens and other substances following established guidelines.
• Perform bench-level teaching via demonstrations of methods and explanation of theories to all required personnel.

The objectives will all have been attained when the graduate student successfully passes the Board of Certification examination.

Career Entry Level Competencies

At the completion of the didactic instruction and clinical training year, the Medical Laboratory Science student should fully realize the importance of the clinical laboratory’s part in the diagnosis and treatment of the patient. He/she will:

• incorporate concepts learned from both the classroom and laboratory experiences to provide accurate and meaningful results that reflect current standards in healthcare
• perform routine laboratory procedures and some special procedures proficiently             
•  recognize the importance of adding new procedures and technologies to his/her repertoire with ease
• make judgments about the validity of laboratory results
• use quality control methods and standards in maintaining accuracy and precision
• evaluate new methods and procedures with minimal assistance
• recognize a problem, identify the cause, and apply the appropriate problem-solving approach to troubleshoot laboratory instrumentation and information systems
• keep records and be able to communicate ideas and facts to a variety of persons both within and beyond the limits of the laboratory
• collaborate with diverse members of the health care team to provide quality, accurate and timely  laboratory results in a cost-effective manner
• comply with all legal, regulatory, and ethical requirements associated with the practice of medical laboratory science
• demonstrate responsibility for his/her own work and decisions and be willing to help others
• accept teaching responsibilities at the bench level through demonstration of methods and explanation of theories
•  be aware of the need to participate in life-long continuing education in order to maintain competency in the performance of the professional duties