Medical Technology
Text compiled from the
American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science webstie, www.ascls.org, the
UHM 2005-2006 Catalog, and UHM’s Medical Technology
website,
www.hawaii.edu/medtech/Medtech.html.
Medical
Technology (MedT or MedTech), also known as Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS),
is a healthcare profession in which practitioners help diagnose, monitor, and
treat diseases by performing laboratory procedures, such as venipuncture and
microscopic examinations. The field encompasses
many disciplines, including microbiology (isolating and identifying
organisms and testing antimicrobial agents); immunohematology (blood banking); clinical chemistry
(measuring chemical components of blood and bodily fluids, such as as
urinalysis, immunology, serology); and hematology and hemostasis
(diagnosing disorders using a microscope and cell analyzers).
Practitioners,
called medical technologists or clinical laboratory scientists, often work in
hospital or clinic laboratories, but many also work in reference labs, physicians’
offices, research and DNA laboratories, medical examiners’ offices and crime
labs, veterinary clinics, and laboratory industries. Some practitioners go on
to pursue careers as forensic scientists, researchers, educators, or health
administrators.
MedTech,
or CLS, evolves constantly in response to advances in technology and is growing rapidly. Career opportunities are
plentiful nationwide.
Medical
Technology and Clincal Laboratory Science Programs
Medical
technology, or clinical laboratory science, is one of the few scientific
careers that you can enter with a Bachelors degree, certification, and
licensure.
In fact, medical technologists or clinical laboratory scientists can enter their career at several levels. MedTech or CLS technicians complete Associate degrees (2-3 years), and MedTech or CLS scientists complete Bachelor degrees (4-5 years).
Associate degree (2-3 years);
Bachelor degree (4-5 years)
A
certificate or graduate degree commands a higher salary and usually speeds
promotion and advancement.
Optional further education:
Certificate (1 year)
Masters (2-3 years)
A Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Science (DCLS) is currently
under discussion but not yet a reality. Becoming a laboratory director usually
requires a doctorate in a related field, such as the biological sciences,
chemistry, management, or education.
Kapi'olani
Community College
offers an Associate degree; UHM offers both a Bachelor of Science in Medical
Technology and a Post-baccalaureate Certification in Clinical Training.
Students
who graduate from an accredited program are eligible to take the national certification
exam, offered by both the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory
Personnel (NCA) and the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).
Some
states, including Hawaii, also require licensing. State laws on licensure vary
but usually include minimum competency requirements, continuing education
requirements, and licensing fees. A
professional license is required to practice in the state of Hawai’i.
Students enter UHM’s MedTech program at the Junior level and must apply to be accepted. The following courses (or their equivalents) must be completed or in progress when applying:
MedT 151 and 251 Introduction to Medical
Technology I and II
Biol 171/171L Introductory Biology I
Math 241 Calculus I
Chem 161/161L, 162/162L General Chemistry I and II (or 171/171L or
181/181L)
Chem 272/272L
Organic
Chemistry I
Chem 274/274L
Principles of Analytical Chemistry
Phys 151/151L, 152/152L College Physics I and II
Micr 351/351L
Biology of Microorganisms
Eng 100
Expository Writing
A maximum of one C- (C
minus) is allowed among the related prerequisite courses, but all MedT courses must
have grades of C or higher.
Applications are accepted
once each year during the Spring semester and are available through the MedTech
office. Applications include transcripts, an essay, two personal evaluations,
and an interview. UHM’s MedTech program is looking for students who are detail
oriented, enjoy science, are able to multi-task and prioritize, and are
well-organized. Criteria for admission are listed on the website.
Graduates of Kapi’olani Community
College’s Medical Laboratory Technician program (KCC-MLT) who meet specified
criteria may have some requirements waived and may be accepted provisionally to
UHM’s program while completing the remaining prerequisites. KCC-MLT graduates
who do not meet the specified criteria must follow the usual admission
procedures.
In the summer of their
junior year, MedTech students complete a 6-week clerkship at a local hospital,
working under professional medical technologists in a laboratory for 8.5 hours
per day. Near the end of their training, MedTech students complete six months
of clinical training before taking one of the national board exams.
Andre G. Theriault, Ph.D., Chair
John A. Burns School of Medicine
Division
of Medical Technology
Office:
Biomedical Sciences C-206
Phone:
(808) 956-8557
Website: www.hawaii.edu/medtech/Medtech.html.
Mailing
address: 1960 East-West Road; Honolulu, HI
96822
For advising, contact:
Dick Y. Teshima, MPH, MT
Biomedical Sciences C-201
UHMānoa’s Pre-Health and
-Law Advising Center (PAC) has reference books, academic planning
worksheets, and one-on-one advising by peers who can help you prepare for your
MedTech program.
UHM’s Division of Medical
Technology www.hawaii.edu/medtech/Medtech.html
American Medical
Technologists www.amt1.com
American Society for Clinical
Laboratory Science www.ascls.org
National Credentialing
www.nca-info.org/
American Society for Clinical
Pathology www.ascp.org/
National Accrediting Agency
for CLS
www.naacls.org