Dear Applicant,

The Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Program at The George Washington University (GW) offers a unique blend of online coursework combined with clinical instruction in accredited clinical laboratories. Upon completion of the didactic portion of the MLS program, the students will be trained in those clinical areas that fulfill their program requirements. The clinical educational experience consists of advanced clinical courses (practica) in specific areas of the medical laboratory. Each practicum will vary in length depending on the area of clinical specialty:

Practicum course name / Length (weeks) / Required in these programs
Clinical Biochemistry / 4 / BSHS, post-baccalaureate MLS and Chemistry Certificates
Clinical Microbiology / 4 / BSHS, post-baccalaureate MLS and Microbiology Certificates
Blood Bank / 3 / BSHS, post-baccalaureate MLS and Blood Bank Certificates
Hematology and Hemostasis / 3 / BSHS, post-baccalaureate MLS and Hematology Certificates
Clinical Immunology and Serology / 1 / BSHS, post-baccalaureate MLS and Blood Bank Certificates
Urinalysis and Body Fluids / 1 / BSHS, post-baccalaureate MLS

Applicants who live IN the Washington, DC metro area will have the opportunity to attend clinical training at one of our four locally affiliated clinical sites. Local applicants only need to submit the Clinical Site Verification (CSV). Your application will not be reviewed until the form is received.

Applicants residing OUTSIDE the Washington, DC area must be able to identify an acceptable accredited (TJC and/or CAP) clinical laboratory willing to provide the clinical instruction in their area. In addition, the applicant must initiate a facility review process between the proposed clinical facility and the GW MLS program. The purpose of this facility review is to ensure that the student will have an acceptable clinical site for the clinical portion of the program. Non-local applicants need to submit two forms: the Clinical Site Verification (CSV) AND the Clinical Facility Fact Sheet. Your application will not be reviewed until the forms are received.

Read the following information to complete this process:

·  All applicants must complete the CSV form that follows this letter. Be sure to indicate your clinical site option (Options 1, 2, 3) on that document and return the form to the GW MLS clinical coordinator as soon as possible.

·  Those applicants selecting Option 2 must begin the facility review process by contacting the laboratory manager or clinical coordinator at the facility where they wish to complete clinical rotations. These students should provide the MLS Letter of Introduction and CFFS to the proposed clinical facility coordinator. After the CFFS is completed, the student should then return the CFFS to the GW MLS program as soon as possible. This document will be reviewed along with your online-submitted application and is critical to ensure that an assessment can be made to determine if the selected site will meet program requirements. Unfortunately, students who do not have an acceptable site are not eligible for admission; therefore, registration will be withheld if the CFFS is not received prior to the GW semester start date.

·  The signed forms should be returned to:

Carol Rentas

Medical Laboratory Sciences Program

Clinical Research and Leadership Department

The George Washington University

2100 W. Pennsylvania Avenue, NW , Suite 5160

Washington, DC 20037

Or e-mailed to:

Clinical Site Verification Form

Name: ______

Address: ______

Phone: ______Email: ______

Program (circle one): BSHS | Post-Bacc MLS | Hematology | Microbiology | Chemistry | Blood Bank

Please indicate your preferred clinical site option by initialing beside one of the choices below.

Option 1: I live in or around Washington, DC at the time of admission and do not need to find a clinical site since GW is currently affiliated with four hospital laboratories in the Washington, DC metro area. I understand local students will be placed in one of these clinical sites to complete their practica. Initial here: ______

Option 2: I live outside of the Washington, DC area and am currently working on securing a clinical site in my geographic area. This institution must be an acceptable accredited (TJC and/or CAP) clinical laboratory willing to provide appropriate clinical instruction. To ensure that an assessment can be made to determine if my selected site will meet program requirements, I understand that I must contact the laboratory manager or clinical coordinator at the facility where I wish to complete clinical experiences and ensure that they complete the facility fact sheet. I will then return this form along with the clinical enrollment form to the GW MLS clinical coordinator. Initial here: ______

Clinical Facility (name/location): ______

Option 3: (military applicants only) I am a member of the United States Armed Forces on active duty and presently deployed overseas. I do not have an available, local clinical site identified to complete the clinical laboratory practicum courses, which are a part of the MLS program requirements. I am currently working on securing a clinical site and will submit the clinical site facility fact sheet as soon as possible. I understand that a delay in submitting the clinical facility fact sheet may delay the start of the clinical portion of the program, potentially delaying or prohibiting my ability to graduate. Initial here: ______

Overseas Assignment Location:______

Dear Laboratory Manager/Clinical Coordinator,

The Medical Laboratory Science Program at The George Washington University offers certificate and bachelor’s degree programs to individuals interested in pursuing a career in the clinical laboratory. Our program is a unique blend of online coursework combined with clinical instruction in accredited clinical laboratories. Applicants residing outside the Washington, DC area who wish to complete the clinical practicums in their area of residence must be able to identify an acceptable clinical laboratory willing to provide the clinical instruction.

You are reading this letter because a potential applicant has contacted you and desires to complete their clinical practicums in your laboratory. The program strives to ensure that student clinical experiences are consistent no matter the location and provide exposure to the broad spectrum of modern laboratory testing. The program provides clinical objectives and competency checklists in addition to evaluations to assist you in evaluating the student’s mastery of the expected skills during clinical practicums.

We are requesting your assistance at this time to determine whether the program clinical requirements can be accomplished at your facility. Please complete the Clinical Facility Fact Sheet (CFFS) provided with this letter. Once the form has been completed, please give them to the applicant who will return it to the GW MLS program as part of the application process. Registration will be withheld if the program has not received a completed Clinical Facility Fact Sheet.

Upon receiving the CFFS, the GW MLS clinical coordinator will contact your facility to further coordinate the process. We appreciate your thoughtful consideration to support this innovative program for individuals who wish to begin or advance their career in the medical laboratory. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Carol A. Rentas, M.Ed., MT(ASCP)

Assistant Professor and Clinical Coordinator

Medical Laboratory Sciences Program

(202) 994-5219

Clinical Facility Fact Sheet

Institution: ______

Address: ______City, State, Zip Code: ______

Telephone: ( __ )______Fax: ( __ )______

Accredited by: (check all that apply): ☐TJC ☐CAP ☐COLA ☐CMS ☐ISO

NOTE: If the facility is not accredited by at least one of the above agencies, a list of safety features is required:

______

Clinical Coordinator / Contact at site: Name: ______

Email: ______

Clinical Laboratory Volume (specify annual number of procedures): ______

Indicate whether tests are performed in the following areas

Hematology: ______Chemistry: ______Microbiology: ______

Immunology/Serology: ______Immunohematology: ______Urinalysis: ______

Molecular Diagnostics: ______

Total Space of Laboratory: ______

Daytime laboratory staff Number Employed

Pathologists ______(convert part-time to full-time equivalent)

Credentialed Laboratorians ______(convert part-time to full-time equivalent)

Major equipment:

1.  ______

2.  ______

3.  ______