Medical Laboratory Technology Program - Executive Summary

Medical Laboratory Technology Program - Executive Summary

Program Description: MLT Program graduates obtain an Associate ofApplied Arts and Science Degree in Medical Laboratory Technology. Curriculum includes didactic education, student laboratory practice and practicum experience in real clinical laboratory settings. In the second or “professional year,” professional attitudes and behaviors are modeled and expected. MLT program graduates possess entry-level career competencies for employment in a variety of clinical laboratory settings (goals and career-entry competencies listed in the 2000-01 Program Planning and Assessment Report). Employment opportunities include these laboratory settings: hospital and outpatient clinics, independent, public health, research, biotechnology, physician office and blood banks.

Upon graduation, our students find employment and fill a community need for MLTs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, clinical laboratory science job growth rate will increase between 1998-08. Data projected for this time is: 1) 53,000 new jobs in clinical laboratories 2) 40,000 vacancies due to retirement, 3) the average age of practitioners as mid 40s and 4) 93,000 incremental workers needed (9,300) per year. In 1999 there were 4,990 graduates from approved educational programs with a shortage of 4-5,000 workers per year. With severe shortages of trained laboratory personnel, and fewer training programs, wages have stated to increase. Entry-level salaries range from $27- $37,000/yr plus benefits, as reported from the WA Personnel Shortages Workgroup Survey of 2000. Shoreline Community College MLT Program is one of three state training programs. The other MLT-AD program in Washington is Wenatchee Valley College, and Clover Park Technical College is a certificate program

We offer our curriculum to people currently working in the field and needing updating or cross training. Some students are foreign trained in laboratory studies, but need current US laboratory curriculum to be certified. Spring 2000, we started a very successful Phlebotomy class that prepares entry-level phlebotomists. Students receive theory, student laboratory practice and an opportunity for practicum experience in health care settings.

The current second year class will graduate 13 students in August 2002. This year, 46% of the sophomore class is the “traditional MLT student” who will earn an AD. The remaining 54% include those with a Bachelor’s degree, foreign trained, or technologists updating their skills. Many of the non-traditional students already work in the laboratory field. We estimate first year student numbers from pre-MLT Advising lists, and those who have contacted faculty and will be starting winter or spring quarter 2002. The first MLT freshman classes spring term are counted in our FTE’s. Our Phlebotomy class started the spring of 2000, and we have trained 58 students. Forty of these 58 students have taken the Phlebotomy practicum class. Our 00-01 S/F ratio is 11.14 (additional S/F data can be reviewed on page 5 of the PPA Report).

Program Analysis:The program has student outcomes in bothlecture and laboratory classes. The Affective Domain objectives are modeled on campus and expected during clinical practicum, and help graduates prepare for the job market. Clinical affiliates are eager to provide our MLT and Phlebotomy students practicum experiences. Program academics focus on current laboratory medicine practice and theory. Faculty set up realist practice labs using real specimens. Graduates pass national certification exams and are employed soon after graduation showing employers are satisfied with Shoreline graduates.

Two full-time faculty in the MLT program teach a wide range of disciplines including: phlebotomy, basic medical lab procedures, parasitology and mycology, hematology, immunology, clinical microbiology and clinical chemistry. In addition, faculty do lab set-up and clean up, and visit and coordinate student practicums. Both faculty are involved in local, state and regional professional activities.

Up to date equipment, properly serviced microscopes and equipment, and efficient and safe laboratory workspace are essential to maintain the high standards of the profession.

An Academic Advisor would be helpful, since much faculty time is spent meeting with students who have questions about the program. The Program Director has created a Home page that addresses common questions, program sequencing, the application process and upcoming information meeting dates.

Multicultural students who excel in math and science, or have taken coursework in other countries are choosing the MLT pathway. Our classes continue to represent many cultures, and this enhances class discussions on disease states and epidemiology. Science related vocabulary continues to be a challenge for some ESL students.

Changes and Future Directions: With the laboratory personnel shortages, the college needs to continue recruiting both traditional and non-traditional students for the MLT program. The Phlebotomy classes offer excellent entry-level training in the healthcare field. We can use a career ladder approach for those students wishing a MLT-AD degree, if we develop additional classes for these students. Offering Saturday classes and possibly some summer or jump-start classes, we can also help with the severe shortages in phlebotomy-lab aid positions.

Developing on-line MLT classes will help our program to offer some theory classes more than once a year. Students will still need to practice and develop skills in laboratory settings with “real” specimens.

Strategies need to be implemented to help retain students in the rigorous second year. The MLT curriculum spans the end of the first year and the entire second year. Part-time enrollment in the second year has been implemented. Developing a “Success Strategies” class or a Seminar class could help recruitment.

With the cost of supplies and equipment continually rising, we could involve our clinical affiliates in partnerships to help share the cost of educating laboratory students.

Completion of the NAACLS Self Study Report by two faculty members during winter and spring quarters 2002, and a Site visit Fall 2002 will be time-consuming tasks. In addition, an external review process through the Professional Technical Department this year may find some additional strategies to increase student numbers.

1