Educational Opportunities

• What does a medical laboratory scientist do?

  A medical laboratory scientist (MLS) is a bachelor’s level professional that performs a wide variety of tests in the clinical laboratory, including:

  • Clinical Chemistry
  • Hematology/Hemostasis
  • Immunology
  • Immunohematology/Transfusion Medicine
  • Microbiology
  • Urine and Body Fluid Analysis
  • Laboratory Operations
• Program Mission Statement

  The UCHealth Parkview School of Medical Laboratory Science strives to administer curriculum which will enable students to attain entry-level competencies and graduates to pass the ASCP board of certification exam.

• Program description

  The MLS program consists of two cohorts that each admit up to 4 students. One cohort begins in January and the second cohort begins in July. During the program, students spend roughly 40 hours per week (Monday through Friday) developing the skills necessary to attain the required entry-level competencies. This is accomplished with a combination of clinical and didactic learning.

• Program structure

  The program is 41 weeks long (40 weeks + 1 week of vacation).  Students begin the program by completing didactic material, which is primarily remote, during the first nine weeks. At the same time, students spend time in the laboratory developing preanalytical skills. The next twenty-two weeks are spent in their first clinical rotations:

  • Blood Bank: 4 weeks 
  • Chemistry: 4 weeks 
  • Hematology: 4 weeks (including coagulation)
  • Microbiology: 6 weeks (including molecular diagnostics)
  • Pueblo West Lab: 1 week
  • Urinalysis: 3 weeks (including send-outs & QA)

  The order that a student progresses through each department varies. A schedule of the clinical rotation order for each student is developed at the beginning of the year but is subject to change. In addition to developing clinical skills in these departments, students receive weekly units of instruction on subjects pertinent to the theory for that department. Each week, at a minimum the student is given objectives, a reading assignment, and homework. An exam is then given over the material for that week.  The exam may also contain review information from previous weeks’ objectives and/or math. 
  Once a student has progressed through all first clinical rotations, the student completes a second clinical rotation in each department:

  • Blood Bank: 2 weeks 
  • Chemistry: 2 weeks
  • Hematology: 2 weeks
  • Microbiology: 2 weeks 

  The program concludes with 1 week of review.

• School policies

  A copy of the current school policies can be obtained by sending an email request to [email protected]

• Program director

  Jennifer Mead, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM

  • [email protected]
• Program outcomes

  Graduation Between	Graduation Rate	Job Placement	ASCP BOC Certification Pass Rate
  7/1/2021 - 6/30/2022	100%	100%	100%
  7/1/2022 - 6/30/2023	100%	100%	100%
  7/1/2023 - 6/30/2024	100%	100%	100%

• Program accreditation

  The Program is accredited by:
  NAACLS
  The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
  5600 N. River Road, Suite 720
  Rosemont, IL 60018-5119
  (773) 714-8880
  www.naacls.org

Admissions

• Admission procedure

  All application materials must be completed and postmarked by December 31st for the July cohort, and by July 31st for the January cohort to be accepted. All of the following items are required as part of the application packet, but may be submitted separately:

  • A completed application form
  • Official college transcripts from all cleges/universities attended.
    • Must be sent to the program directly from the college/university registrar
    • May be sent via USPS (400 W. 16th Street, Pueblo, CO 81003) or email ([email protected])
  • A total of at least three references:
    • At least two references MUST be from science instructors and/or advisors
    • One reference may be from an employer

  Interview process:
  Once a completed application packet has been received, it will be reviewed. Based on the information provided, interviews will be conducted for selected applicants. Not all applicants will be interviewed. Students are chosen for an interview based on the guidelines used in the selection of students. The program director will contact the applicant to schedule an in-person interview.

  Final selection of students:
  Once all interviews are completed, the admissions committee will rank the applicants based on the guidelines used in the selection of students. Acceptance letters will be emailed to the top applicants in January for the July cohort and in August for the January cohort. Applicants have 3 days to notify the program director of their decision to accept or decline the position in writing. If no response is received at the end of three days, it will be assumed that the applicant declined the position. If all positions are not filled, more acceptance letters will be sent. After all positions have been filled, the remaining applicants will be notified that the cohort is full. A list of alternates may also be chosen in the event that positions become available before each cohort begins.

  Background check, drug screen and physical assessment:
  All offers for a position in the MLS program are contingent upon passing a background check, drug screen and physical assessment. Once the applicant has accepted a position in the MLS program, more information will be provided on completing these requirements. The student is responsible for the cost of these items.

  Vaccination record:
  Upon acceptance to the program, the student must submit a complete vaccination record to Human Resources upon request. You will be made aware of any vaccinations, titers or tests that need to be completed prior to the start of the program. The vaccination record must include:

  • Proof of Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccination or immunity (titer).
  • Proof of chicken pox vaccination (Varicella zoster) or immunity (titer). 
  • Proof of Hepatitis B vaccination.
  • Proof of influenzae vaccination for the current year.

  In addition, students are required to have a TB test performed.

• Guidelines used in selection of students

  The admissions committee selects applicants from completed applications based on the following:

  • Transcript GPA and Science GPA (calculated by the program director)
  • Application essay (the applicant’s reason for choosing the profession)
  • Work experience relating to customer service, lab work and volunteer work
  • References
  • The interview
  • Applicant's personality, attitude and goodness of fit for position
  • Special consideration will be given to students interested in obtaining employment as an MLS at UCHealth Parkview

  UCHealth is an equal opportunity employer. No employee or applicant shall be discriminated against in any terms, conditions or privileges of employment or otherwise be discriminated against because of the individual’s race, creed, color, religion, gender, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, physical recovery from childbirth or a related condition, sexual orientation (including actual or perceived orientation and transgender status), gender identity, gender variance, genetic information, veteran status, civil air patrol status and lawful activities during nonworking hours, or any other applicable status

• Degree requirements

  The student must have completed their bachelor’s degree prior to starting the medical laboratory science program. A college degree is not required at the time of application, but the student must complete the degree before the program cohort begins. Completion of the program is not eligible for course credit at any college or university.

• Foreign applicants

  Transcript evaluation:

  Applicants with a degree from a foreign university must submit a transcript evaluation by an evaluation agency that is acceptable to the ASCP Board of Certification. For more information contact the program director.

  Academic requirements

  Applicants must meet the same course requirements as those listed for non-foreign students.

  Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States.

  Applicants must be admitted to an accredited graduate program in a United States college/university, which has accepted the foreign degree.

• Minimum GPA

  The student must have a minimum GPA (or calculated science GPA) of 2.8 based on a 4.0 scale.

• Course requirements

  Prior to starting the program, the student must have the following:

  Chemistry:
  16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) including:

  • Two semesters of general chemistry, each with a laboratory component.
  • Organic and/or biochemistry, including a laboratory component.

  Biological science:
  16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) including:

  • General microbiology with a laboratory component
  • Immunology
  • Genetics 
  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Cellular biology or vertebrate physiology

  Math:

  • One college course in statistics.
  • One course in college mathematics (college algebra or higher). High school courses that have been accepted by a college or university such as those with AP or IB credit may be accepted if approved by the program director.

  Notes:

  • All required courses must be acceptable toward a major in that field or to a bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science. To count toward the course requirement, a grade of C or better must be obtained.
  • If all course requirements in chemistry and biology were completed seven or more years before application, the applicant must take a course in Biochemistry, Genetics, and General Microbiology.
• Physical requirements and essential functions

  The medical laboratory science student must be able to:

  • Meet the minimum physical requirements for a medical laboratory science student:
    • Stand and/or sit for up to 8 hours per day.
    • Perform repetitive tasks and motions.
    • Have good manual dexterity and the fine motor skills necessary for performing phlebotomy, handling specimens, and operating and maintaining instruments.
    • Move freely and safely around the laboratory and hospital including reaching laboratory benchtops and shelves, and reaching patients lying in hospital beds or seated in specimen collection chairs.
    • Lift up to 45 pounds occasionally.
    • Identify exposures to hazards such as toxic/caustic chemicals, communicable diseases, blood and body fluids, and moving mechanical parts.
    • Hear normal speaking voices on the bench, in lecture and on the telephone.
    • Hear alarms and telephones ringing.
    • See well enough to perform all required laboratory testing including reading and interpreting items like thermometers, results on computer screens, graphs and instrument scales. Be able to use microscopes and make microscopic distinctions regarding formed elements and cells and allow for accurate depth perception.
    • Be able to accurately discern color.
  • Speak and comprehend the English language such that they can communicate effectively with instructors, patients, supervisors, coworkers, visitors and other allied health workers on the telephone or in person.
  • Read and follow directions. Give explanations to others as needed.
  • Manage their own time and systematize actions to complete assigned tasks in a specified time limit. This includes effectively multi-tasking during bench work.
  • Adapt to professionals and technical change, as our laboratory is a dynamic environment.
  • Work safely with potentially hazardous materials, thus minimizing the risk of injury to self, patients or others.
  • In addition, the medical laboratory science student must possess:
    • The intellectual skills necessary for working in the clinical laboratory including comprehension, reasoning, analysis, comparison, self-expression and mathematical skills.
    • Recall ability adequate for functioning in the clinical laboratory. For instance, after adequate demonstration, the student should be able to explain and operate an instrument correctly.
    • The physical and psychological stamina to work under pressure.
• Tuition

  The tuition is $8,000. Tuition policies, as well as additional program expenses can be found in the current school policies.

• Alumni

  Transcript requests should be directed to the MLS Program Director.

Course descriptions

Upon completion of the program, the medical laboratory scientist will possess the entry-level competencies necessary to perform the full range of medical laboratory tests and will play a role in the development and evaluation of test systems and interpretive algorithms.

• Blood bank and serology

  Students will receive didactic material and clinical instruction in this course covering blood bank/immunohematology/transfusion medicine and immunology/serology, including, but not limited to blood products, blood group systems, blood group immunology, physiology and pathophysiology, serologic and molecular testing, transfusion practice, laboratory mathematics, principles of immunology, diseases of the immune system, transplantation, infectious disease serology, serologic procedures, and test results.

  8 semester hours

• Clinical chemistry

  Students will receive didactic material and clinical instruction in this course covering chemistry, including, but not limited to general chemistry, proteins and enzymes, acid-base, blood gases and electrolytes, and special chemistry.

  7 semester hours

• Hematology and coagulation

  Students will receive didactic material and clinical instruction in this course covering hematology and coagulation/hemostasis, including, but not limited to physiology, disease states, and laboratory testing in relation to blood, body fluids, and bone marrow.

  8 semester hours

• Introduction to laboratory education, management and research

  Students will receive didactic material in this course covering laboratory operations, including, but not limited to, legislation and regulation, agencies, and oversight, financial considerations, statistical considerations, implementation of new methods, quality management, nonexamination variables, instrumentation/laboratory equipment/basic principles, laboratory safety, laboratory mathematics, management principles, and education principles. Students will receive clinical instruction related to phlebotomy and specimen processing.

  4 credit hours

• Microbiology

  Students will receive didactic material and clinical instruction in this course covering microbiology and molecular diagnostics, including, but not limited to pre-analytic procedures, analytic procedures for bacteriology, mycology, mycobacteriology, parasitology, and virology, and post-analytic procedures.

  9 semester hours

• Urinalysis and body fluids

  Students will receive didactic material and clinical instruction in this course covering urinalysis and body fluids, including, but not limited to physical analysis, chemical analysis, microscopic analysis, renal physiology, and disease states for urine, cerebrospinal fluid, amniotic fluid, serous fluids, semen, and stool.

  3 semester hours