Medical/Clinical Laboratory Assistant Program Courses
Course Objective
To train individuals for entry level employment as a Medical/Clinical Lab Assistant. The curriculum is designed to familiarize students with, performance of “waived” laboratory procedures, blood collection procedures, equipment, collection and handling of specimens, safety and medical ethics, professionalism and anatomy/physiology, including medical terminology and training for Medical Manager.
Program Description
- The Medical/Clinical Laboratory Assistant program provides 260 hours of classroom with 160 hours of laboratory training, followed by 180 hours of facility supervised externship. Simulation of clinical laboratory experiences are integrated with the didactic portion of the program.
- Lecture/Laboratory:
- Classes: Monday-Thursday
- Time: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM or 6:00PM to 10:00PM
- Length:
- 4 months classroom plus 180 (4 – 6 weeks) hours of clinical externship – Days (or)
- 6.5 months classroom plus 180 (4 – 6 weeks) hours of clinical externship – Nights or week-end
Curriculum Outline
Module 1:
MCLA 001 – INTRODUCTION TO MCLA
The student will be instructed on the Phlebotomist’s role and responsibilities, Laws, ethics and patient rights. The laboratory standards introduction to computer access will be discussed; patient/staff communication will be part of the instruction. The importance of using basic learning skills, effective coping skills are emphasized and incorporated throughout the program.
MCLA 002 – ASEPTIC CONCEPTS AND INFECTION CONTROL
Lecture includes laboratory safety procedures, OSHA requirements, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), exposure control plans, and fire safety. The student will be required to demonstrate standard precautions, infection control, and isolation techniques.
CC 004 HIV/AIDS CORE TRAINING
(Required or proof of core training) This course delivers a detailed, technical outlook of the transmission, prevention and clinical management of HIV/AIDS, including infection control, confidentiality, and current Florida laws and testing.
CC 005 CPR AND FIRST AID FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS
(Required if not currently certified) All students will complete the American Saftey and Health Institute approved CPR course for healthcare providers and demonstrate the correct procedures for performing CPR, rescue breathing, and choking maneuvers on adults, infants and children. This will provide the student with an ASHI certificate.
MCLA 006 – ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE CIRCILATORY SYSTEM
Lecture includes instruction on all body systems, with an emphasis on the circulatory system, disease processes and medical terminology. The student will receive information on frequently ordered laboratory tests and their normal ranges. Lecture will emphasize diagnoses, related tests, ordering tests, billing resources, and processing laboratory test data.
MCLA 009 – BASIC OFFICE PROCEDURES
The student will become familiar with the metric system and methods of reporting lab results. Proper use of blood collection equipment including evacuation systems, syringes/needles, butterfly, lancets, and micro-collection devices will be demonstrated. Each student will identify and state the purpose of various anticoagulants and additives needed for laboratory tests.
MCLA 010 – CLINICAL AND LAB TECHNIQUES
Skills mastered in this laboratory oriented portion are: patient communication, identification, preaccession and accession orders, positioning, site selection, syringe and evacuated tube collection, and identification of specimens. The students will be able to appropriately respond to adverse patient reactions and failed venipunctures. Demonstrate familiarity with intravenous and indwelling lines, and prioritize their work duties. The student will master additional blood collection procedures, including: capillary collections, procedure for micro-collection and blood smears. Lecture will include special collection procedures such as stat or timed specimens and tests requiring extreme accuracy of results. The student will describe and demonstrate blood cultures, throat cultures, and urine/semen collection procedures and identify factors that affecting laboratory results. There will be demonstration of the Florida Department Of Children And Families Services “Drug Free Urine Collection Techniques” and microscopic specimen preparation.
(20 Hrs. Lecture, 20 Hrs. Lab)/i>
MCLA 011 – EMPLOYMENT SKILLS/EXTERNSHIP ORIENTATION
Lecture will address job search and interview techniques, along with employee work habits and expectations. Students will prepare a sample resume, cover letter and follow-up correspondence. Externship responsibilities will also be explained and discussed.
Module 2:
MCLA 003 COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Lecture will focus on basic principles of the English language, both verbal and written communication, including business correspondence and telephone skills. Instructions will be on proper techniques for construction of business letters and medical, consultation and operative reports as well as telephone greetings, phone call management, patient reception will, non-verbal communication, and cultural impact on communication.
MCLA 008 COMPUTER TECHNIQUES
This section will provide students with typing and computer skills, with continued emphasis on business correspondence and reports. Word Perfect, Word, and medical software usage will be introduced. Practice sessions will develop accuracy skills.
Module 3:
MCLA 005 – INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
Provides a foundation for understanding medical terminology as it relates to the medical assistant. Introduction will encompass word roots, prefixes and suffixes, and combining forms along with current procedural terminology.
MCLA 012 HEALTH INSURANCE BILLING AND CODING
Students will study types of health insurance plans and sources of insurance (including Medicaid and Medicare) available to patients. Lecture includes filing, monitoring and processing insurance claims, the use of computerized claim management and CPT, ICD-9 and HCPCS coding systems.
Module 4:
MCLA 007 PHARMACOLOGY
Introduction to the principles of pharmacology and drug administration. Basic math skills, English to metric conversions, and military (24 hour time) will be taught. Emphasis on correct measurement with regards to time, volume, temperature, weight, ratio and proportion. Lecture will encompass drug names (brand, generic and chemical) and classifications, use of PDR, pharmaceutical preparations, drug storage and handling, and controlled substances. Instruction on the role of the medical assistant in administering and dispensing drugs, along with routes and methods of drug administration, including topical, oral, rectal, sublingual and injection. Proper documentation and factors influencing dosage and drug action.
Module 5:
MCLA 013 – CLINICAL EXTERNSHIP
Students will be assigned to a health care facility under supervision. The clinical externship will take place at a local health care facility chosen by the school staff. There is no financial payment for students participating in clinical externship. The clinical externship is purely a learning experience.
