MLT Student Handbook 2009-2010 - Austin Community College

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Austin Community College MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY Student Handbook 2009-2010 http://www.austincc.edu/mlt/mlt_courses.html
http://www.austincc.edu/mlta/clinical Revised Tuesday, July 21, 2009 Introduction and Welcome 4 Medical Laboratory Profession 5
Description of the Clinical Laboratory Science Profession 5
ASCLS Code of Conduct 7
Pledge to the Profession 7 MISSION and Goals 8
Program Mission 8
Program Goals 9
SCANS Competencies 10
Entry Level Competencies 12
Essential Functions and Technical Standards 13
Students with Disabilities 15 Program Policies 16
Admission Requirements 16
Criminal Background Checks 17
Program Length 17
Program Progression 18
Certification Eligibility 18
Degree Plan 18
Time Commitment Year Two 20
Transfer of College Credit 20
Advanced Placement/ Challenge Exam Policy 21
Program Readmission Policy 22
Readmission Criteria 22
Readmission Conditions 22
Readmission Priority 22 GENERAL Policies 24
Academic Dishonesty 24
Progressive Discipline Policy 25
Student Complaint Procedure 26
Sexual and/or Racial Harassment Complaints 27
Grade Change Policies and Procedures: 27
Assignment of Grades 27
Procedures to Resolve Grade Disputes 27
Textbooks and Supplies 28
Attendance Policy 29
Grading and Academic Requirements 29
Exams 30
Dress Code 30
Clinical Visitation 31
Electronic Communication Devices 32
E-mail Access 32
Transportation 32
Employment 32
Noncompliance with Program Policies 32
Policy and Procedure Changes 32
Probation 33
Student Records 33
Restricted Laboratory Access 34 Health and Safety Information 35
Professional Risks 35
Health Insurance 35
Accidents/Exposures 35
Accident Procedure 36
Exposure Response
Environment of Care 37
HIPAA 37
Workplace Violence Training 38
Substance Abuse Policy 38 Clinical Policies 41
Introduction 41
Alternate Status for Clinical Rotations 41
Service Work Policy 42
Professional Behavior 42
Professional Ethics and Confidentiality 43
Safe/Unsafe Clinical Practices 43 Student Services 45
Advising and Counseling 45
Financial Aid 45
Library Services 46
College Computing Labs and Facilities for Students 46
Student Life 46 Program Faculty and Staff 47
KERI BROPHY-MARTINEZ 47
TERRY M. KOTRLA 48
CAROLYN A. RAGLAND 49
CECILE M. SANDERS 50
Adjunct Faculty pool 51
Student Signature Page 52 Introduction and Welcome Welcome to the Medical Laboratory Technology Program at Austin Community
College. The faculty and staff wish you success in the pursuit of your
educational goals. We are glad to have you and will treat you with
courtesy and respect. The student is our only product and consequently, our
most important product. Therefore, we are here to assist you in gaining an
education both within the classroom and in clinical activities scheduled
for application of knowledge gained from the classroom. Austin Community College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges,
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools http://www.sacs.org/ The
Medical Laboratory Technology program of Austin Community College is
accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory
Sciences (NAACLS http://www.naacls.org ), 5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720,
Rosemont, Illinois 60018: (773) 714-8880. Accreditation by NAACLS assures
students that they will be provided with a quality education in laboratory
medicine. Upon successful completion of the Associate Degree in Medical
Laboratory Technology, the graduate is eligible to sit for national
certification exams. Graduation from the program is not contingent upon
passing an external certification exam. The Austin Community College Medical Laboratory Technology Student Handbook
has been compiled by the faculty to provide information pertinent to
students enrolled in the Medical Laboratory Technology program. The purpose
of this handbook is to detail policies and procedures specific to this
program. The handbook is constructed to be used as a supplement to the
Austin Community College Student Handbook and serves to bridge the
overriding policies of the College with the policies specific to this
program. The policies and procedures set forth in this handbook are
designed to support the success of the student. A copy of the Austin Community College Student Handbook is available at
each campus's administrative offices or may be downloaded from the ACC
website at: http://www.austincc.edu/handbook/ . The Division of Health Sciences is committed to providing quality
educational programs for the purpose of developing successful health care
professionals. Developing caring, competent health care professionals
prepared for diverse contemporary practice requires interactions with
patients and patient services, thereby resulting in an educational
environment with unique characteristics and requirements. The Health Sciences programs prohibit discrimination. Employment at the
College and access to its programs or activities shall not be limited on
the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, age, gender,
sexual orientation, political affiliation, or physical disability. ACC will
take steps to ensure that the lack of English language skills will not be
a barrier to admission and participation in all educational and vocational
programs.
Medical Laboratory Profession
The health of all Americans depends upon the educated minds and trained
hands of the medical laboratory professional. The practice of modern
medicine at the exacting standards currently required would be impossible
without the scientific testing performed daily in the medical laboratory.
Maintenance of these standards and progress toward improvement in the
quality of laboratory services depends on the dedicated efforts of
professional practitioners of medical laboratory science. Through their
dedication, the medical laboratory professionals of the United States make
a vital contribution to the quality of health care. Description of the Clinical Laboratory Science Profession
The clinical laboratory professional is qualified by academic and applied
science education to provide service and research in clinical laboratory
science and related areas in rapidly changing and dynamic healthcare
delivery systems. Clinical laboratory professionals perform, develop,
evaluate, correlate and assure accuracy and validity of laboratory
information; direct and supervise clinical laboratory resources and
operations; and collaborate in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. The
clinical laboratory professional has diverse and multi-level functions in
the areas of analysis and clinical decision-making, information management,
regulatory compliance, education, and quality assurance/performance
improvement wherever laboratory testing is researched, developed or
performed. Clinical laboratory professionals possess skills for financial,
operations, marketing, and human resource management of the clinical
laboratory. Clinical laboratory professionals practice independently and
collaboratively, being responsible for their own actions, as defined by the
profession. They have the requisite knowledge and skills to educate
laboratory professionals, other health care professionals, and others in
laboratory practice as well as the public. The ability to relate to people, a capacity for calm and reasoned judgment
and a demonstration of commitment to the patient are essential qualities.
Communications skills extend to consultative interactions with members of
the healthcare team, external relations, customer service and patient
education. Laboratory professionals demonstrate ethical and moral attitudes
and principles that are necessary for gaining and maintaining the
confidence of patients, professional associates, and the community. All medical laboratory professionals are expected to become active members
of their national professional organization, the American Society for
Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) and the American Society of Clinical
Pathology (ASCP). It is through professional organization that
laboratorians can control the destiny of their profession. Students will be required to join both organizations. ASCP membership is
free and applications are available at http://www.ascp.org . Information on
becoming an ASCLS member, along with applications, can be obtained at:
http://www.ascls.org . The fee for joining ASCLS is $25.00.
ASCLS CODE OF ETHICS Preamble
The Code of Ethics of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science
(ASCLS) sets forth the principles and standards by which clinical
laboratory professionals practice their profession. I. Duty to the Patient
Clinical laboratory professionals are accountable for the quality and
integrity of the laboratory services they provide. This obligation includes
maintaining individual competence in judgment and performance and striving
to safeguard the patient from incompetent or illegal practice by others.
Clinical laboratory professionals maintain high standards of practice. They
exercise sound judgment in establishing, performing and evaluating
laboratory testing.
Clinical laboratory professionals maintain strict confidentiality of
patient information and test results. They safeguard the dignity and
privacy of patients and provide accurate information to other health care
professionals about the services they provide.
II. Duty to Colleagues and the Profession
Clinical laboratory professionals uphold and maintain the dignity and
respect of our profession and strive to maintain a reputation of honesty,
integrity and reliab