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Medical Laboratory Science: Technical Standards

The Medical Laboratory Science Programs (MLS), to include traditional as well as second degree & post baccalaureate certificate, at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, are vigorous and intense programs placing specific professional, intellectual, physical and social requirements, and demands on the students enrolled in the programs. An objective of these programs is to prepare graduates to enter a variety of employment settings and to render care to a wide spectrum of individuals with physical and psychosocial impairments. The technical standards set forth by the MLS programs establishes the essential qualities considered necessary for students admitted to these programs to achieve the knowledge, skills, and competencies for entry-level practice. Ability to meet these technical standards is required for admission to the MLS programs and must be maintained throughout the terms a student is enrolled in the respective program. These standards are subject to amendment based on changes in health care /scope of practice.

Accepted applicants for MLS’ education programs will be required to verify they understand and meet these technical standards or they believe the standards can be met with reasonable accommodations.

In keeping with applicable federal and state law regarding disabilities, we are committed to making reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform successfully in our program. Any student with a disability who is accepted to the MLS program must contact the 504 coordinator in the Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ Office of Student Affairs as soon as possible. The coordinator will evaluate the student, confirm the stated condition qualifies as a disability under applicable laws, and determine what accommodations are reasonable.

There are three separate and distinct components in the curriculum for the MLS programs. There is an academic didactic (classroom) component, a laboratory component, and a clinical/fieldwork/preceptorship/ component. Accommodations in place for the didactic component may not be available for the laboratory component and/or clinical/fieldwork/preceptorship/ components in the curriculum.

To successfully complete didactic, laboratory, and clinical/fieldwork/preceptorship portions in the MLS programs an individual must meet the following technical standards with or without accommodations:

1. Mobility
   
   
   • The student must have adequate gross mobility in order to maneuver in a timely and safe fashion throughout the department.
   • The student must be able to lift his or her arms above shoulder height in order to place or remove items of ten pound or less from shelves.
   • The student must be able to bend over at the waist or squat (waist and knees) in order to place and remove items of ten pounds or less from drawers and cabinets.
2. Manual Dexterity
   
   The student must have adequate fine motor skills to be able to manipulate small objects in a safe and precise manner. Examples would include (but are not limited to) being able to operate a computer keyboard; dial a telephone; handle cuvettes, sample cups, pipette tips, and reagent vials; pick up glass slides from table top, manipulate tools and instruments used in the clinical laboratory (including a microscope); collect specimens, and use a pen or pencil in order to communicate effectively in writing for coursework and clinical/fieldwork/preceptorship to ensure patient/client safety.
   
   
   
3. Auditory Acuity
   
   The student must be able to hear well enough to respond to significant sounds in a clinical lab. Examples would include (but are not limited to) being able to hear signals generated from instrumentation that may indicate normal operating status, critical sample value, or equipment malfunction, and being able to hear and follow verbal instruction from a coworker or supervisor in order to ensure patient safety. (National Patient Safety Goals NPSG)
   
   
   
4. Verbal Communication Skills
   
   The student must be able to orally communicate professionally to persons on the telephone or other health care workers listening specifically to the student in person to ensure patient safety. (National Patient Safety Goals NPSG)
   
   
   
5. Visual Acuity to read, write, discern colors, and use a microscope.
   
   The student must have adequate eyesight such that he/she can recognize and distinguish gradients of color (such as on a urine reagent strip and special stains), read numbers and words either on a video display screen, computer printout, or legible handwriting, and interpret lines and points on graphs and charts to ensure patient safety.
   
   
   
6. Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative, and Quality Skills
   
   The student must possess the ability to develop and exhibit organizational problem solving skills. Specifically, the student must have the ability to measure, calculate, analyze, interpret, synthesize and evaluate data in a short period of time; have the ability to learn to perform duties and assignments in a timely manner while under stress in a variety of settings; exhibit the maturity to accept feedback and demonstrate professional conduct in the classroom, laboratory, and at the preceptorship site.
   
   
   
7. Social Behavior Skills
   
   Demonstrate respect for individual, social, and cultural differences in fellow students, faculty, staff, patients, clients, and patients’/clients’ families during clinical/fieldwork/ preceptorship/ and academic interactions. Demonstrate flexibility and the ability to adjust to changing situations and uncertainty in academic and clinical/fieldwork/preceptorship situations. Conduct oneself in an ethical and legal manner, demonstrating honesty, integrity, and professionalism in all interactions and situations.
   
   I understand and acknowledge that I must meet the technical standards required for the MLS program.