School of Medical Laboratory Science

Program Mission Statement:

Lexington Medical Center School of Medical Laboratory Science mission is to provide superior education to future medical laboratory scientists by integrating theoretical concepts with clinical experiences. The program is committed to prepare the student with the skills, knowledge, and technology that are required to fulfill professional roles and leadership positions. Program curricula develop the student's communication skills and analytical reasoning. The program is committed to providing students with resources for success as they begin their new positions as members of the health care team.

What do Medical Laboratory Scientists do?

A medical laboratory scientist is a healthcare professional who performs chemical, hematological, immunologic, microscopic, and bacteriological diagnostic analyses on body fluids such as blood, urine, sputum, stool, cerebrospinal fluid, peritoneal fluid, and synovial fluid, as well as other specimens. They perform a full range of laboratory tests to uncover diseases such as HIV, diabetes, and cancer. Common tests performed are complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, electrolyte panel, liver function tests, renal function tests, thyroid function tests, urinalysis, coagulation, lipid profile, blood type, semen analysis, serological studies and routine cultures. They must recognize anomalies in test results and know how to correct problems. They monitor, screen, and troubleshoot analyzers featuring the latest technology available. The MLS performs equipment validations, calibrations, quality control, statistical control of observed data, and interpretation and correlation of test results.

Where do they work?

Careers in medical laboratory science are available in hospital laboratories, public health laboratories, forensic laboratories, reference laboratories, molecular diagnostics, veterinary offices, physician offices, management, pharmaceutical industry, medical sales, and educational or research institutions. In hospital laboratories, medical laboratory scientists often work in departments such as blood banking, chemistry, hematology, immunology, and microbiology. Some medical laboratory scientists are generalists and others have specialized in one area performing more complex analysis.

Career Opportunities

Medical laboratory scientists are in extremely high demand, according to the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).

National Accreditation

The Lexington Medical Center School of Medical Laboratory Science is accredited through the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) since 2003.

NAACLS
5600 N. River Road
Suite 720
Rosemont, Illinois 60018
(773) 714-8880
www.naacls.org

Program Overview

The Program is 12-month in length and begins and ends each August. No more than four students are enrolled at a time, allowing for an extremely low student-to-teacher ratio that maximizes learning.

Class and Clinical Schedule

The program combines clinical experience with classroom instruction to ensure reinforcement of theoretical concepts. Classroom and clinical experiences are generally scheduled weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Lectures are held twice a week (Monday and Thursday). Clinical rotations are conducted three full days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday) and Monday and Thursday mornings. The program uses the facilities of the Lexington Medical Center Laboratory to provide the clinical experiences for its students. Students rotate individually within the LMC hospital clinical laboratory in order to achieve a 1:1 student to instructor ratio. Additional student rotations may occur in the laboratories of the Lexington Medical Center Urgent Cares and Lexington Oncology Associates. There are no other clinical facilities associated with the program.

Curriculum

• MLS 405 Clinical Hematology (5 credits)
• MLS 410 Clinical Hemostasis (3 credits)
• MLS 415 Clinical Seminar (4 credits)
• MLS 420 Clinical Chemistry (5 credits)
• MLS 425 Clinical Microbiology (6 credits)
• MLS 430 Parasitology (2 credits)
• MLS 435 Mycology (2 credits)
• MLS 440 Urinalysis and Other Body Fluids (3 credits)
• MLS 450 Blood Bank and Transfusion Medicine (5 credits)
• MLS 455 Clinical Immunology (4 credits)

Faculty

The didactic lectures are taught by the Program Director and medical laboratory scientists with proficiency in their content area. Board-certified pathologists and laboratory supervisors serve as additional didactic instructors. Each clinical rotation has a coordinator who directs the bench instruction.

Program Administration
Program Director - Tiffany Smith, MS, MLS(ASCP)
Medical Director - Beverly Daniel, MD

Lecture Course / Primary Instructor
Blood Bank and Transfusion Medicine -
Emily Austin, MLS(ASCP) ^CM SBB

Chemistry - Amber McClelland, MLS(ASCP) ^CM
Hematology - Tiffany Smith, MS, MLS(ASCP)
Hemostasis - Tiffany Smith, MS, MLS(ASCP)
Immunology - Tiffany Smith, MS, MLS(ASCP)
Microbiology - Tyler McKeown, MLS(ASCP) ^CM SM
Mycology - Jeanette Reynolds, MS, M(ASCP), MT(AMT)
Parasitology - Jeanette Reynolds, MS, M(ASCP), MT(AMT)
Urinalysis and Other Body Fluids - Tiffany Smith, MS, MLS(ASCP)

Clinical Rotation Coordinators
Blood Bank and Transfusion Medicine - Temeko Moore, MLS(ASCP) ^CM SBB

Chemistry - Jessica Perry, MLS(ASCP) ^CM SC
Hematology/Hemostasis/Urinalysis - Leah Schmalfuss, MLS(ASCP) ^CM
Immunology - Martha Lee Sitnik, MLS(ASCP)
Microbiology - Cindy Griggs, MLS(ASCP) ^CM

Program Completion

Upon successful completion of the program, students will possess entry-level competencies of a medical laboratory scientist and are eligible to sit for the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) national certification exam. Each student is awarded a certificate upon successful completion of the program. Graduation from the program is not contingent upon passing a certification exam. Program Goals and Competencies

National Certification

National certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist is recommended upon graduation but not required to complete the program. American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) offers the MLS certification exam and students may sit for the exam locally. Students undergo two weeks of intense review at the conclusion of the program to prepare for the ASCP Board of Certification MLS exam.

Past 3-year Outcomes

¹"Final half" of the program starts on February 1st of the year of graduation.

²Percentage of students who began the "final half" of the program that successfully graduated.

³Percentage of graduates who found employment in the field or continued their education within one year of graduation.

⁴Percentage of graduates who passed the ASCP BOC MLS exam within one year of graduation.

Program Requirements

The School does not offer advanced placement, transfer of credits, or credits for experiential learning.

Academic Acceptance Requirements

1. Baccalaureate graduate from a regionally recognized accredited college or university with courses in the physical and biological sciences.

Curriculum Prerequisites:

a. 16 semester hours of biological sciences to include microbiology with lab, anatomy and/or physiology, and immunology (either as a separate course or as part of a microbiology course – provide course outline or syllabus).
b. 16 semester hours of chemistry to include organic chemistry or biochemistry.
c. One course in college level mathematics.
d. Recommended courses include genetics, statistics, molecular or cell biology, histology.

2. GPA overall of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale and a 2.8 GPA in science-related courses.

Note: The content of the chemistry and biological science courses must be acceptable towards a major in those fields of study. Survey and remedial courses do not qualify as prerequisites.

Updating Course Work:

Persons who have not been employed in a laboratory setting or who have been out of school for more than seven (7) years will be required to update their knowledge in biology before entering the program. Minimal requirement would be courses in Microbiology and Immunology. Courses must be at a level to apply towards a science major. A grade of "C" or better must be achieved in each course in order to be considered.

Non-Academic Requirements:

Students must have the ability to perform essential MLS functions that include manual dexterity, fine motor skills, mobility, vision (ability to distinguish colors, clear from cloudy, and objects through a microscope), read and write in the English language, communicate with others, and operate a computer. View Essential Functions for Medical Laboratory Science Students

Upon acceptance into the program, the student is required to sign a statement indicating that they have read and understand the essential functions for medical laboratory scientists. Student recruitment and admission shall be non-discriminatory in conformity with all equal Employment Opportunity laws.

International Student Requirements
Foreign Degrees:

Individuals who hold foreign baccalaureate degrees and who wish to enter the program must provide LMC School of Medical Laboratory Science with documentation that they are legally eligible for employment in the United States and must satisfy at least one of the following criteria:

1. Student possess a foreign baccalaureate degree that includes courses that are required as prerequisites by the LMC School of Medical Laboratory Science and have those courses reviewed and evaluated by an agency approved by the Program (e.g., World Education Services, Inc.) Approved agencies are located on the ASCP website.

2. Student was admitted to an accredited graduate program in a United States college or university, whereby the college or university has accepted the foreign degree. However, the course work must meet the school requirements and is subject to review and evaluation by an agency approved by ASCP depending on the graduate work accomplished.

Important note: Students who have graduated from a foreign college/university with no prior U.S. college/university completed courses will be asked to complete at least 12 semester hours at a U.S. regionally accredited academic institution with a passing grade of C or above before admission to our Program. Courses taken will be determined by the Program Director and may include, but are not limited to Immunology, Microbiology with lab, Genetics, Anatomy & Physiology, and Biochemistry.

Any applicant whose native language is other than English must take the TOEFL exam with an acceptable score of 100 (Internet based). Internet scores should include 23 or above on reading, 23 or above on listening; 23 or above on writing, and 26 or above on speaking.

Application Procedure

Apply

To request an application packet, email Program Director Tiffany Smith, MS, MLS(ASCP) at tesmith@lexhealth.org.

Application Requirements

• Completed application form
• Official college transcripts
• TOEFL score, if English is not your native language
• Three letters of recommendation (suggested to have two letters be written by academic or laboratory instructors).

Application Deadline

The deadline to apply is January 31 of the same year as enrollment. After the January 31 deadline, applications may still be accepted provided the class is not filled.

Program Student Selection:

The Lexington Medical Center School of Medical Laboratory Science accepts up to 4 students each year. Students are evaluated in each area of the following admission criteria: overall GPA, science GPA, references, previous work experience, personal statement and personal interview. Interviews are by invitation only. The Admission Committee evaluates and selects the best qualified students for admission from among those who applied. Applications for admission will continue to be processed until the class has been filled. Student recruitment and admission shall be non-discriminatory in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations. All applicants are considered equally without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, veteran status, or disability.

Personal Interview

The program's Admission Committee will review the completed applications, references, and college transcripts and select the candidates for a personal interview to be held on-site.

Drug Screen & Background Check

Accepted students are scheduled for a free drug screen prior to enrollment. Students must produce a negative drug screen and undergo a background check as required for all Lexington Medical Center employees and must meet all other criteria set by LMC Human Resources in order to qualify for enrollment in the program.

Fees and Expenses

Tuition Waiver

Tuition for the program is $3,800. The program would like to staff our laboratory with the most qualified MLS graduates, so the program tuition ($3,800) is waived with the stipulation that the student agrees to work for Lexington Medical Center Laboratory as a certified MLS for two full years following program graduation. Accepted students will be expected to sign an employment agreement with Lexington Medical Center in lieu of paying tuition fees. Positions have to be available and offered. Positions may be on any shift, including second or third. Students must have excellent evaluations from clinical coordinators and faculty. LMC reserves the right NOT to hire any student, which dissolves any repayment requirements. Students, who complete the program, but elect not to accept offered employment will be required to pay the educational costs ($3,800) of the program.

Students are informed of this policy during their personal interview. An employment agreement is signed and notarized during laboratory orientation. Since students do not pay the tuition before attending the program, there is no refund policy. Students who do not complete the program for whatever reason, are not required to pay the $3,800 tuition.

Textbooks, Transportation, Housing, Insurance, and Personal Expenses

Students are responsible for their own textbooks, transportation, housing, and personal expenses. Contact the Program Director for current textbook list and estimated cost. Meals may be obtained in the hospital cafeteria at a discounted price. The hospital does not offer health insurance to students. Health insurance is recommended but not required.

What to wear?

Hospital scrubs are required for all students and are at the student's expense. Students are expected to adhere to the laboratory's dress code which is explained during orientation. The laboratory provides each student with disposal safety coats as well as other personal protective equipment which are worn during the clinical rotations.

Program Policies

Program Withdrawal

A student may withdraw at any time and should notify the Program Director in writing stating the reasons for withdrawal. Students who withdraw will not be expected to repay any tuition.

Student Service Work/Student Employment Policy

A student may be employed in the laboratory per-diem on weekends and after school hours if he/she wishes. Working in the laboratory outside of academic hours is non-compulsory. Students will not be substituted for regular staff during program hours.

Additional Policies of the LMC School of Medical Laboratory Science

For information concerning any policies of the program or for examples of the academic calendar, please contact the Program Direction. Program policies are published in the Student Handbook and can be mailed or e-mailed to any prospective student upon request.

Program brochures are available upon request.