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Medical Technology

TEC 307
Phone: 601.266.4908
Fax: 601.266.4913

Mailing Address
The University
of Southern Mississippi
Medical Technology
118 College Drive #5134
Hattiesburg, MS 39406

medtech@usm.edu

Undergraduate Curriculum

BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM

PROGRAM:
The Department of Medical Technology offers a complete program leading to the bachelor of science in medical technology. During the first three years, the student is enrolled in general education, science, and preliminary medical technology courses. The senior practicum includes two semesters at the university and one and one-half semesters at an affiliated hospital. The affiliated hospitals include Forrest General Hospital , Hattiesburg ; Biloxi ; Memorial Hospital , Gulfport ; and Singing River Hospital , Pascagoula .

Also, the department has a process for articulation with accredited medical laboratory technician (MLT) programs, which provides career mobility for the associate-degree-level technician.

Students completing the program are eligible to take national examinations for certification as medical technologists/clinical laboratory scientists.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES:
 Presently, the greatest number of medical technologists is employed in hospital laboratories. Most hospital laboratories perform a wide variety of routine and special diagnostic tests, ranging from simple manual methods to those using automated and highly technological instrumentation. The working conditions, salary, and opportunities vary with the size and type of laboratory.

Medical technologists are also employed in other types of laboratories. Privately owned laboratories, such as those in physicians' offices and clinics, are staffed by medical technologists. In addition to routine analyses, the regional laboratories may perform sophisticated or exotic tests not offered by the typical hospital laboratory. Public health laboratories offer positions for medical technologists that are regulated by civil service. Some pubic laboratories offer diversified services; others are confined to examination in specialized areas only. Also, medical technologists serve as research assistants in medical centers and in research and quality control industries. There are also opportunities for positions as sales or technical representatives with companies that manufacture or distribute laboratory equipment and supplies.

SUGGESTED CURRICULUM:

Pre-requisite to Practicum Sem. Hrs.
English Language
6
World History
3
W. His., Philo., or Reli
3
College Algebra
3
General Chemistry
4
Anth, GHY, or SOC
3
Intro to Med Tech
1
Prin of Bio Sc
4
Philo, Psy, Pol. Sci, COH, or Eco
3
Organic and Bio Chem
8
General Microbiology
4
Western Masterpiece
3
Fine Arts
3
Clin Lab Safety, Clin Lab Calc
4
Clin Bacti
5
Fund of Hemat
5
Prof. Communications WI
4
Clin Chem
5
Clin Immuno
3
Genetics
4
Total
78

Practicum
The student must make formal application to the practicum. A minimum overall and science GPA of 2.3 and a C or better in MTC 202, 203, 301/301L, 302/302L, 306/306L, 309/309L, and 315 are required before application can be reviewed. Two practicum classes are accepted each year, one in August and one in January. The practicum is divided into two phases. Phase one (two semesters) is spent in the teaching laboratories at Southern Miss. Phase two (24 weeks) is spent completing a clinical rotation at one of the affiliated hospitals. The practicum includes 46 semester hours of specific medical technology courses. (see curriculum sheet for Practicum coursework.)

ADMISSION TO JUNIOR-LEVEL COURSES
A minimum GPA of 2.0 overall and a "C" or better in College Algebra, and General Chemistry lectures and laboratories are required for entrance into junior-level MTC courses. MTC 202 and 203 are prerequisites or corequisites for all junior-level MTC courses. Students must make a "C" or better in these courses. Other prerequisites and corequisites for MTC 302/302L, 306/306L, 309/309L, and 315 are stated in the course descriptions found in the Undergraduate Bulletin.

PROGRESSION IN THE JUNIOR YEAR:
A student must make a "C" or better in junior-level MTC courses. The department repeat policy for these courses is:

  1. A student may repeat one junior-level MTC course, to improve the grade, without permission from the department faculty.
  2. A second repeat of junior-level courses will require specific permission of the faculty. To obtain permission, the student must present a justification in person before the faculty of the department. A favorable majority vote of the faculty is required for permission to repeat and continue as a major.

ADMISSION TO THE SENIOR YEAR
During the junior year, the student will apply to the department for admission to the senior year. Students should contact the Medical Technology Department for the application procedure. A minimum overall and science GPA of 2.3 is required before an application can be reviewed. Science courses used to calculate the science GPA include all BSC, CHE, MAT, CSS, and MTC courses in the curriculum. Hepatitis vaccination, physical report, and professional liability insurance are required. Application completion, successful completion of all courses in the curriculum, and demonstration of qualities and attitudes that are necessary to develop as a competent professional are required. When qualified applicants exceed class size, selection will be based upon GPA. The senior year consists of two phases: Phase I, two semesters on The University of Southern Mississippi campus; and Phase II, a six-month clinical session at one of the affiliated hospitals. Preferences for hospital assignments will not be considered.

PROGRESSION IN THE SENIOR YEAR
Consult the Medical Technology Student Policy Manual for progression policies for the senior year.

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
Regardless of courses taken previously, if English is not the native language of any student, evidence of English proficiency must be provided prior to admission into the senior year. The MTELP (Michigan Test of English Language Proficiency) requirement is "Proficiency II" and is preferred by the department. Alternately, a TOEFL of 550 may be accepted. In addition, a score of 4 ("functional language skills") must be earned on a fluency test administered by the English Language Institute. This fluency test is specifically designed to determine listening and speaking skills with respect to situations and language expected during the senior year of the program.

MLT MATRICULATION
MLT students who hold an associate's degree from a NAACLS accredited MLT program and certification as a Medical Laboratory Technician (or equivalent) from a nationally recognized certifying agency are not required to take the junior-level MTC courses, as long as their transcripts document equivalent courses taken as part of the community college program and a grade of "C" or above was obtained in each MLT course.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Essential functions, the nonacademic standards that a student must be able to master to participate successfully in the program, are as follows:

Essential Visual and Observation Skills for Medical Technology

The Medical Technology student must be able to:

  • observe laboratory demonstrations in which biological (i.e., body fluids, culture materials, tissue sections, and cellular specimens) are tested for their biochemical, hematological, immunological, microbiological, and histochemical components.
  • characterize the color, odor, clarity, and viscosity of biological samples, reagents, or chemical reaction products.
  • utilize a clinical grade binocular microscope to discriminate among fine structural and color (hue, shading, and intensity) differences of microscopic specimens.
  • read and comprehend text, numbers, and graphs displayed in print and on a video monitor.
  • recognize alarms.

Essential Motor and Mobility Requirements for Medical Technology

The Medical Technology student must be able to:

  • perform laboratory testing adhering to existing laboratory safety standards.
  • perform moderately taxing continuous physical work, often requiring prolonged sitting and/or standing, over several hours.
  • travel to assigned clinical laboratory practicum sites.
  • reach laboratory benchtops and shelves, patients lying in hospital beds or patients seated in specimen collection furniture.
  • grasp, hold, transport, utilize specimens, reagents, hazardous chemicals and equipment in a safe manner as needed to perform laboratory testing.
  • obtain patient specimens in a timely, safe, and professional manner (e.g. perform phlebotomy).
  • use laboratory equipment (e.g. pipettes, inoculating loops, test tubes) and instruments to perform laboratory procedures according to established laboratory guidelines.
  • use a computer keyboard to operate laboratory instruments and to calculate, record, evaluate, and transmit laboratory information.
    troubleshoot and correct basic equipment malfunctions.

Essential Communication Requirements for Medical Technology

The Medical Technology student must be able to:

  • read and understand technical and professional materials (i.e. textbooks, journal articles, handbooks, and instruction manuals).
    follow oral and written instructions independently.
  • clearly instruct patients regarding specimen collection.
  • demonstrate sensitivity, confidentiality and respect when speaking with patients.
  • communicate clearly, accurately and tactfully with faculty members, student colleagues, staff and other health care professionals orally and in a recorded format (writing, typing, graphics, or telecommunications).

Essential Intellectual Requirements for Medical Technology

The Medical Technology student must be able to:

  • comprehend, measure, calculate, reason, integrate, analyze, evaluate, correlate, problem-solve and compare.
  • recognize abnormal laboratory results (e.g. patient and QC) and take appropriate action.
  • demonstrate critical-thinking and judgment skills appropriate to a given situation.
  • independently prepare papers, prepare laboratory reports, and take paper, computer, and laboratory practical examinations.

Essential Behavioral Requirements for Medical Technology

The Medical Technology student must be able to:

  • organize work and perform multiple tasks within given time constraints and under stressful conditions while maintaining the ability to communicate clearly.
  • be able to manage the use of time and be able to systematize actions in order to complete professional and technical tasks within realistic constraints.
  • possess the emotional health necessary to effectively apply knowledge and exercise appropriate judgment.
  • be able to provide professional and technical services while experiencing the stresses of task-related uncertainty (i.e., ambiguous test order, ambivalent test interpretation), emergent demands (i.e. "stat" test order), and distracting environment (i.e., high noise levels, crowding, complex visual stimuli).
  • be flexible and creative and adapt to professional and technical change.
  • recognize potentially hazardous materials, equipment, and situations and proceed safely in order to minimize risk of injury to patients, self, and nearby individuals.
  • adapt to working with unpleasant biologicals.
  • support and promote the activities of fellow students and of health care professionals. Promotion of peers helps furnish a team approach to learning, task completion, problem solving, and patient care.
  • be honest, compassionate, ethical, and responsible. The student must be forthright about errors or uncertainty. The student must be able to critically evaluate her or his own performance, accept and act on constructive criticism, and look for ways to improve (i.e., participate in enriched educational activities).
  • show respect for individuals of different age, ethnic background, religion, and/or sexual orientation.
  • exercise independent judgment and accept responsibility for own work.

In addition, the student must follow all established policies and procedures of the program and clinical affiliate sites.

Certain disabilities may limit employment opportunities. Moreover, immunocompromised individuals may put themselves at personal risk due to exposure to infectious agents that occur in all aspects of the laboratory.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
Scholarships, low interest loans, and college work-study monies are available from the university. For more information, contact the Financial Aid Office, 118 College Drive #5101, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001, (601) 266-4774.

ADMISSION:
Admission forms are procurable from and should be submitted to the University Admissions Office, 118 College Drive #5166, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001, (601) 266-5000.

INFORMATION AND CORRESPONDENCE:
For additional information please consult the current Undergraduate Bulletin or write to the Chair, Department of Medical Technology, The University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #5134, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001. (601) 266-4908, E-mail: medtech@usm.edu.