Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology

Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS)

Medical Technologist Program (MT)

The HCMC Medical Technology Program is an eight-month (September through May) clinical internship with intensive study in the areas of chemistry (including toxicology and instrumentation), coagulation, hematology, immunohematology (blood bank), immunology, microbiology (including parasitology, mycology, mycobacteriology, and virology), urinalysis, management, and education. Each area of study includes practical laboratory experiences, lectures and/ or workshops, self instruction learning modules, patient case studies, and exams. Students receive individualized instruction as they learn and work with teaching technologists in the laboratory. Students perform tests on patient blood and body fluid specimens and, under supervision, report results. General hours for the internship are 7a.m.- 3:30p.m. Monday through Friday. One to two weeks of evening-shift experience (3p.m.-11:00p.m.) is included.

Clinical enrollment is limited to a maximum of 8 students per year. Contact one of the university's program directors or roberta.montgomery@hcmed.org for application information.

At the completion of the program, graduates receive a certificate that is not contingent on passing a certification examination. Graduates are then eligible to take the national certification examinations of the American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Registry(ASCP-BOR) and the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA).

Affiliated University Programs for
Medical Technology

Minnesota State University, Mankato
Mankato, MN 56002
Program Director:
Lois Anderson, M.A., MT (ASCP)
(507) 389-2417

St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud, MN 56301
Interim Program Advisor:
JoAnn Meerschaert, PhD
(320) 308-2288

University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse
La Crosse, WI 54601
Program Director:
Diane Sewell, Ph.D, MT (ASCP)
(608) 785-8255

Winona State University
Winona, MN 55987
Program Director:
Frances Ragsdale, Ph.D.
(507) 457-5462

Michigan Technological University

Houghton, MI 49931

Program Director:

Alice Soldan, MS, MT (ASCP)

(906) 487-2547

Goals

The Medical Technology Program will:
1) Provide high-quality instruction that will produce a Medical Technologist who is competent
    in the theory and practice of laboratory skills.

2) Provide the environment necessary to enable each student to develop and demonstrate     professionalism and concern for the patient in the daily practice of medical technology.

3) Provide a curriculum that will enable each student to:

4) Provide instructors in all areas who are well-qualified and motivated.
5) Develop and use valid testing and evaluation mechanisms.
6) Employ a variety of instructional methods and materials.

Admission Requirements

1. To qualify for entrance into HCMC’s Medical Technology Program, the following classes or their equivalents are required:

• Biological Sciences: A minimum of 16 semester credits is required. The required courses are: general biology, hematology, immunology, microbiology, anatomy/ physiology, genetics/molecular biology. Recommended courses include: introduction to medical technology/clinical laboratory science, medical or pathogenic microbiology, parasitology, and virology.
• Chemistry: A minimum of 16 semester credits is required. The required courses are general chemistry and organic or biochemistry. Recommended courses include analytical chemistry and instrumentation.
• Mathematics: One math course is required. Remedial math courses are not acceptable. Statistics is required, either as a separate course or included in a relevant course (e.g. biostatistics or analytical chemistry).
• Required pre-clinical courses: hematology with lab experience and immuno-hematology with lab experience. Introduction to clinical chemistry and urinalysis are highly recommended.
• Suggested electives: physics, computer science, education courses, business administration.
  

2. The student must be currently enrolled in one of the five affiliated universities listed in this online brochure or have graduated within the past three years. Attendance at an affiliated university does not guarantee placement in the program.

3. The student must receive excellent recommendations from science professors and the affiliated university’s Medical Technology program director.

4. Students with a cumulative grade point average of 2.9 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) will be considered first. A grade of "D" or "F" is not acceptable unless a waiver is obtained from the HCMC program director in consultation with the HCMC education technologists.

5. The student must complete the pre-clinical summer curriculum or equivalent.

6. A student must not be disqualified from having direct patient contact as a result of the Minnesota Department of Health background study (as required by Minnesota law).

7. A student must be able to satisfy the Technical Standards based on existing skills and abilities, or through the use of corrective devices. A copy of the Technical Standards is included with the application form.

8. Students must demonstrate their knowledge of the HCMC pre-clinical competencies distributed prior to internship by writing a response for each of the stated objectives. The responses will be evaluated for completeness by the HCMC education technologists. Feedback will be provided to both students and their affiliated university in order to plan for improvements in the university curriculum.

1. Credits/Costs:
Depending on the policies of the student’s affiliated university, 24-32 semester hours of credit are granted for the clinical internship at HCMC. Students must pay tuition to their affiliated university for the credits earned while at HCMC. In the event of withdrawal or dismissal from the program, tuition reimbursement will be made according to the student’s affiliated university’s policy. Students who have completed a bacc. degree and are not paying tuition to a university will pay HCMC an amount equal to that reimbursed by the Minnesota University system. In the event of withdrawal or dismissal from the program, tuition reimbursement will be made according to the amount of time spent in the program. Students must pay approximately $500.00 for textbooks and self-instructional units (not refundable if student withdraws or is dismissed from the program). Students must also pay certification examination application fees. During the internship, students must provide their own food, housing, clothing, transportation, health insurance, and miscellaneous supplies (notebooks, folders, paper, etc.).

2. HCMC Courses:
The courses that must be completed at HCMC with a passing score of at least 75% include:

3. Probation/Dismissal/Withdrawal:

A. A student may be placed on probation by the Education Committee (program director and education technologists) if:   1) after acceptance into the program, a student receives a grade lower than a "C" in any of the following college courses:   a) microbiology b) hematology c) chemistry d) immunology e) immunohematology f) instrumentation g) urinalysis h) quality assurance The student may either enter the program on probationary status or be denied entrance into the program – depending on a joint decision between university program director and the HCMC Education Committee.   2) the academic performance in any HCMC clinical section (lab and/or lecture) is less than 75%. 3) the average of all non-academic performance is below the minimum stated in any section. 4) the student has displayed unprofessional conduct or unacceptable behavior, including: lack of ethics, breach of confidence, dishonesty, unsatisfactory technique or attitude, excessive absence/tardiness. 5) the student has not complied with program or HCMC policies and regulations. B. A student on academic probation will be given the opportunity to raise the cumulative grade to minimum passing score of 75%. C. A student, having been placed on probation and failing to meet the requirements of that probationary period, may be dismissed after a decision of the Education Committee to terminate the student. The university program director will be notified as soon as the student is placed on probation and of any subsequent course of action. D. A student whose non-academic performance is less than the average acceptable range in any one section could be dismissed by the Education Committee without a probationary period (after documentation and counseling). E. A student who has displayed unethical or unprofessional behavior or performance could be dismissed by the Education Committee without a probationary period. F. A student who has violated HCMC or program rules or policies could be dismissed without a probationary period. G. Should a student feel a probation or dismissal is unfair, an appeal may be made using the Grade Appeal or Student Grievance Polices in the HCMC Medical Technology Program Orientation Manual. H. A student may withdraw from the program only after consultation with the program director.

Application Instructions

1. Application forms are available at affiliated universities (in the Medical Technology Program), the HCMC program director, or you may download a copy. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open this document.

2. Required documents: The following must be submitted by October 15 to be considered for admission to the HCMC Medical Technology Program:

3. HCMC tour: It is highly recommended that each applicant visit HCMC for a tour of the laboratory prior to submitting an application. As an alternative, the tour can be conducted on the day of the interview.

Admission Policy

1. All students who meet the requirements for admission and have completed the application process will be considered for admission to the program.

2. Completed applications are reviewed by the program director and education technologists prior to scheduling an interview (after October 15 and before December 1).

3. Interviews are conducted at HCMC by the program director and one or more of the education technologists. At the time of interview, students will be evaluated and scored in relation to their college grades, their recommendation letters, their interview comments, and other information contained in their application.

4. Student acceptance/non-acceptance notices will be completed by December 15.

5. Following acceptance into the program, students will receive an orientation manual that details general policies of conduct, attendance, dress, grading and evaluation procedures, and grievance policies.

Early Acceptance Policy

1. Students are eligible for early acceptance if their cumulative grade point average and science grade point average are 3.50 or higher.

2. Application for early acceptance and a tour of the HCMC Laboratories must be completed by September 15 in the year prior to the clinical internship.

3. HCMC may accept a maximum of 75% of its class under the Early Acceptance Policy.

4. A telephone or personal interview may be requested of the student.

5. Students and their university program director will be notified of their acceptance status by October 1.

6. For more information about early acceptance, contact your university program director.

Additional Information:

1. This process extends exceptional students the privilege to apply to only one program and, if the program agrees, be accepted two weeks before the normal application deadline. An acceptance letter is mailed to the student so he or she knows they don't have to apply anywhere else.

2. If the program does not agree, the student's application is added to the rest of the student applications at that program (and the student may opt to send applications to other programs as well).

3. Note that the student must have toured the institution - this includes meeting the Program Director and/or one or more of the Education Technologists. These people make notes on the applicant and ask many if not all of the questions asked at the formal interview. If all the interview items have not been covered, then the phone or personal interview is conducted as mentioned in item #4 above.

Student Selection Process

HCMC Medical Technology (MT)/(CLS) Program
1. All students who meet the requirements for admission, and have completed the application process will be considered for admission to the program.
2. Completed applications are reviewed by the Program Director and Education Technologists prior to scheduling an interview (after October 15 and before December 1).
3. The Program Director completes the Summary of Required Courses/Credits/Grades form for each applicant to assure that all required courses are completed, in progress, or planned.
4. The HCMC Program Director will work with the university program directors to arrange interviews.
5. Each student is interviewed by one or more Education Technologists (or designee) and the Program Director (or designee). The same list of interview questions is used for each student. Using the HCMC Applicant Rating Form, each student is rated per GPA, experience, recommendations, biographical sketch, interview traits/comments, other information contained in their application, and overall impression. Interviewers document comments if desired.
6. Ratings are tallied by the Program Director and/or Education Technologists. Interviewers compare and discuss comments and ratings. Ratings may be adjusted at this time.
7. If applicable, at the end of the interview, students are given a preference sheet and asked to complete and return the form by a specific date.
8. When the preference sheets are returned, the Program Director will prepare the rank list and will discuss student selection with other Programs in relation to student preference and rank. A consensus will be reached as to which students will be offered internship positions and which students will be alternates should one or more selected student decline or cancel.
9. Students with a cumulative grade point average of 2.9 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) will be considered first. A grade of "D" or "F" is not acceptable unless a waiver is obtained from the HCMC Program Director in consultation with the HCMC Education Technologists.
10. Students and the university program directors will be notified by phone by December 15.

Benefits of HCMC Internship

• Monday through Friday schedule; no weekends
• One-week vacation between winter holidays
• Availability of part-time work
• Diverse patient population
• Comprehensive curriculum at a Level 1 Trauma Center

Questions?

Primary Contact:

Robbi Montgomery, MLS, MT (ASCP) SI, CLS (NCA)

Program Director, (612) 873-3022

E-mail: roberta.montgomery@hcmed.org

James Fink, MD, PhD
Medical Director, (612) 873-8525
E-mail: james.fink@hcmed.org

Hennepin County Medical Center
Clinical Laboratories, Mail Code P4
701 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55415

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