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 Program Overview
The Medical Laboratory Assisting program is a thirty-one-week intensive diploma that prepares students, using classroom instructions, clinical sessions and practicum preceptorships, to carry out competent and professional duties in a variety of laboratory settings (hospitals, private laboratories and local community health centres). As part of the overall health care discipline, laboratory assisting is increasingly growing in popularity among practitioners because of its strategic placement in the health care industry. This placement has made lab assistants a key member of the health care team, playing vital roles in the laboratory.
(See Course Descriptions)
One reason for the lab assistants' strategic roles is because they are trained to carry out certain critical patient care functions. For example, they collect specimens from patients, carry out the initial processing and preparation of specimens for analysis, perform data entry, clerical and reception duties. Indeed, lab assistants perform a full range
of electrocardiograms (ECGs) duties, including a variety of basic laboratory procedures. Lab assistants work under the supervision of medical laboratory technologists. The assistant is often the only laboratory staff who is frequently in direct contact with the public. Since this is so, it is important that lab assistants be knowledgeable about their work in addition to being able to demonstrate, at all times, strong inter-personal skills, good work ethics and professional conduct, good office skills, to name just a few.
Our MLA program has been considered unique in the province because it reconizes the importance of office/administrative skills in specimen accession, students of our MLA program are also trained in office administration within the diploma context of Cambridge University (CIE).
- Overall, a 31-Week Diploma (Accelerated), Or 2 years (Regular)
- 19-Weeks for Medical Laboratory Assisting
- 12-Weeks for Office Administration
- 4-Weeks Clinical Practicum/Clinical Sessions/Excursion
- Graduates in High Demand
Entry Routes and Graduation
There are two entry routes - regular and accelerated. The regular entry route extends the completion of core courses to two years. The accelerated entry route, on the other hand, extends the completion of core courses to thirty-one weeks. In all, fifty-five (55) credit hours of required courses must be completed in order to be eligible for graduation from the program.
Your Career
This program combines medical lab assisting with office administration. Because good administrative skills are the key foundation of many occupations, Medical Lab Assisting and Office Administration courses enable students to develop a working knowledge of lab assisting within the broader context of an office environment. Graduates can either choose to enter the labour force as a Medical Lab Assistant or as an Office Manager/Administrator.
Transferability/Further Studies
Graduates may pursue further education in Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) and may be considered for transfer to other institutions on a course-by-course evaluation at the receiving institutions.
Credentials
After successfully completing all course requirements of the program, graduates will receive a Metropolitan Community College diploma in either MLA (for those taking MLA only) or MLA and Office Administration (for those taking both concentrations), or simply diploma in Office Administration (for those taking only the Office Administration component of the program).
Graduate Certification
Upon the successful completion of all prescribed courses, graduates will receive two diplomas - one in MLA and another in Office Administration. Graduates, except those who are in the Office Administration program, will be eligible to write the National Voluntary Examination of the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science. The voluntary national certification is recognized both by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science and the Council on National Certification. It provides the opportunity for practice across Canada.
Entry Requirements
Grade 12 or its equivalent
May require specific grade 12 subjects (namely Maths and English)
Candidates must have a good command of the English Language (both orally and in writing)
Those for whom English is not the first language are required to submit a TOELF score or other acceptable English language test score
Candidates with low scores in the English language tests will be registered to take the English language remedial course
Interview and placement assessment
Note: In addition to the above entry requirements, applicants may be required to submit a portfolio of their experience. This may include a curriculum vitae, two letters of reference, and a brief essay (not to exceed 500 words) on why they choose to enter the program. Before field placement, all candidates will be required to sign an Oath of Confidentiality at the College in favour of the host sites.
Student Success and Person Specification
Students with high academic standings at the secondary and post-secondary school levels usually experience greater success at Metropolitan Community College. The same success applies to those who are not only strongly committed to work after graduation, but also desirous of pursuing further studies.
Students enrolled in this program will need to be proficient in the use of Internet for completing assignments and conducting library research.
Greater success in this program will also be achieved by completing all assigned projects, attending all lectures, participating actively in class discussions, and meeting all prescribed requirements for graduation.
Person specification includes, maturity, aptitude to be successful, strong interpersonal skills, flexible, enthusiastic, trustworthy, reliable, team-oriented, patience and perseverance.
Program Objectives
On successfully completing the program, candidates should, among other things, be able to:
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of Information and Communications Technology in the context of MLA practice
• Distinguish the role of Laboratory Assistants
• Understand basic procedures in hematology, chemistry, microbiology departments, etc.
• Distinguish between professional and ethical issues of practice
• Show proficiency in inter-personal communications
• Carry out quality assurance management with a reasonable degree of efficiency
• Identify essential medical laboratory tools
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of reagent and media preparation
• Understand essential aspects of anatomy and physiology
• Demonstrate proficiency in medical laboratory terminology
• Conduct and practice laboratory safety, infection control and specimen accession
• Understand mathematical calculations and measurements
• Explain and perform venipuncture
• Explain and perform skin puncture, micro collection/phlebotomy
• Demonstrate familiarity with biohazardous waste and safety practices
• Perform specimens collection and handling with a reasonable degree of efficiency
• Proficiently carry out sterilization and disinfection
• Understand protocols and procedures for processing, transporting and storing specimens
• Understand and explain basic procedures in urology
• Understand and describe basic cardiac anatomy
• Understand the basic conduction system of the heart
• Possess knowledge of the basic cardiac arrhythmias
• Provide an evaluation of electrocardiogram
• Identify and understand electrocardiography equipment and its components
• Possess knowledge of electrocardiogram recording
• Perform basic first aid and understand WHMIS
Progression
Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in each semester in order to progress in the course. A grade of C or better is required to pass any course, and a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.0 or better is required to qualify for graduation.
Accreditation
The College is accredited by the PCTIA.
Employment Opportunities
MLA graduates are employed in hospitals, private and community healthcare labs. Also, employment opportunities may be found in pharmaceutical companies and other healthcare organizations. To assist you further, we have gathered some helpful links to internet employment resources.
Tuition Fees for Domestic Students (Subject to Change Without Notice)
- Tuition fee for the MLA specific program is $6,950.00. Books and supplies are approximately $650.00
- Tuition fee for the Office Administration component is $4,250.00. Books and supplies are approximately $400.00
- Students are responsible for all costs associated with the program
Tuition Fees for International Students (Subject to Change Without Notice)
- Tuition fee for the MLA specific program is $10,950.00. Books and supplies are approximately $650.00
- Tuition fee for the Office Administration component is $6,250.00. Books and supplies are approximately $400.00
- Students are responsible for all costs associated with the program
What Students Learn in the MLA Program
In broad terms, students will learn:
- Orientation to Study
- Information and Communications Technology
- The Role of Laboratory Assistants
- Procedures in Hematology
- Professional and Ethical Issues
- Inter-personal Communications
- Quality Assurance Management
- Anatomic Pathology
- Transfusion Medicine and Cytology
- Examination of Essential Laboratory Tools
- Reagent and Media Preparation
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Medical Laboratory Terminology
- Laboratory Safety, Infection Control and Specimen Accessioning
- Mathematical Calculation and Measurement
- Venipuncture
- Skin Puncture Micro Collection/Phlebotomy
- Biohazardous Waste and Safety Practices
- Specimens Collection and Handling
- Sterilization and Disinfection
- Protocols and Procedures for Processing, Transporting and Storing Specimens
- Procedures in Urology
- Cardiac Anatomy
- Conduction System of the Heart
- Basic Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Evaluation of Electrocardiogram
- Electrocardiography Equipment and Components
- Electrocardiogram Recording
- Career Development Strategies
- Basic First Aid and WHMIS
- Clinical Practicum
Note: Medical Insurance fee for International Students
Metropolitan Community College requires all international students to have a medical insurance cover. This is compulsory, and international students must provide proof of valid coverage before registration. You may purchase private medical insurance through Metropolitan Community College, on arrival, for $40.00 per month. On completing 3 months of stay, you may be eligible to purchase the Province of British Columbia Health cover from the BC Medical Services plan for $54.00 per month.
For further information, please enquire here.
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