Medical Technology Program

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Medical Technology Program Dept. of Laboratory
Medicine University of Washington
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Overview

• Description of Medical Technology Career
• Description of Medical Technology Program
• A Glimpse of Med Tech Student Life

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Medical Technology (Clinical Laboratory Science)
What is Medical Technology? Medical Technology is
where basic laboratory science meets the practice
of medicine. Also known as Clinical Laboratory
Science, this is a critical part of health care,
as the results obtained by diagnostic laboratory
tests done on patient samples of blood, other
body fluids, or tissue are vital tools for
physicians in their diagnosis, treatment, and
prevention of disease. As much as 70-80 of the
factual data physicians use in evaluation of
patients is generated by the clinical
laboratory. What is a Medical Technologist? An
individual with a Bachelor of Science in Medical
Technology who is educated in laboratory
techniques and instrumentation used in the
diagnosis and evaluation of disease and who has a
strong knowledge of human body systems and
related diseases and disorders.
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• What do Medical Technologists do?
• Perform analytical tests on patient specimens
• Collect and process the specimens
• Analyze the data generated by clinical
  laboratories determining if there are any
  discrepancies
• Work with new techniques and new instruments
• Use information systems such as computers

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• Medical Technology also includes
• Interacting as health care professionals with
• Patients
• Laboratory Personnel
• Other Health Care Professionals, such as MDs,
  nurses, etc.
• The public
• Behaving professionally which includes
• Ethical and moral beliefs to gain the trust of
  professional associates
• Confidence of the patient
• Medical Technology does NOT include a lot of
  interactions directly with patients

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• Where do Medical Technologists Work?
• Most Medical Technologists
• Clinical laboratories in medical centers,
  hospitals, or clinics
• Other Medical Technologists
• Forensic Science
• Computers in Laboratories
• Laboratory Sales Representative
• Research
• Other Health Professions
• These are just a few examples of the many varied
• and unique job opportunities available to
• Medical Technologists

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Clinical Laboratory Divisions The Main Areas of
Medical Technology
Blood Banking/Immunohematology Chemistry
Hematology Coagulation Immunology
Microbiology
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• Blood Banking (Immunohematology)
• Perform crossmatch to identify compatible blood
  for patients who are bleeding or for surgery.
• Some people have unusual blood types and a
  detailed evaluation must be performed.

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• Chemistry
• Analyze the chemical composition of serum (the
  liquid portion of the blood).
• Includes testing for therapeutic drugs, drugs of
  abuse, and diseases of organs (heart, liver,
  pancreas) and organ systems (endocrine).

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• Hematology Coagulation
• Blood cells are counted, stained, and examined.
• Leukemia and other disorders are diagnosed.
• Also includes tests to evaluate the ability of
  the blood to clot.

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• Immunology
• Tests to evaluate the immune response
• (appropriate response to infecting agent or
  improper response like rheumatoid arthritis)

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• Microbiology
• Bacteria are grown on agar plates and
  identified.
• Bacteria are also tested for sensitivity to
  antibiotics.
• May include identification of viruses,
  parasites and fungi.

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• Why become a Medical Technologist?
• Educated as a generalist, so lots of variation.
• LOTS of available jobs!!! There is a shortage of
  Medical Technologists nationally and
  internationally
• Competitive Salaries (starting pay
  50,000/year)
• Part-time/Full-Time/Various Shifts
• Fulfilling, Satisfying, Rewarding

• What about career advancement with a BS in MT?
• Lab supervisor/manager
• Graduate School (M.S., Ph.D.)
• Professional School (M.D., D.D.S., Pharm. D.,
  etc.)
• Law School
• Business School

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• How do I become a Medical Technology
• major at UW?
• Contact medtech_at_u.washington.edu or
  206.598.2162
• Get an application packet and more information
  at
• www.depts.washington.edu/labweb/Education/MedTech

• What are UW Medical Technology Program
• Admission Requirements?
• Junior status (all prereqs complete or in
  progress)
• Minimum Cumulative GPA of 2.0 required
• Minimum Science GPA of 2.0 required
• Classes accepted in 2007 2008, mean GPA 3.4
  
• Application DEADLINE Feb. 15th each year

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The Program

• 2 2 Bachelor of Science Program
• 1. Pre-professional Phase 90 quarter hours of
  prerequisite and general education coursework
• 2. Professional Phase (7 quarters) Didactic Year
  (4 quarters) and Clinical Internship Year (3
  quarters)

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Pre-Professional Prerequisites

• General Biology 180, 200, 220
• General Chemistry 142, 152, 162
• Organic Chemistry 237, 238, 239 or 223 224
• One Math Course Statistics 220 or Math 124 or
  Math 144
• Biology 118 (Human Physiology) is Strongly
  Recommended
• Plus the General Education courses required for
  graduation
• Note Take entire series at the same educational
  institution

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Medical Technology Program Junior Year
Autumn Quarter LABM 322 - Chemistry LABM 427
-Selected Topics MICRO 441 - Immunology BIOCHEM
405 - Biochem
Winter Quarter LABM 321 - Hematology MICRO 442 -
Bacteriology MICRO 443 - Micro Lab BIOCHEM 406 -
Biochem
Spring Quarter LABM 418 - Chemistry MICRO 444 -
Mycology Parasitology MICRO 445 - Virology
Summer Quarter LABM 421- Medical Micro LABM 426
- Immunohematology
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Medical Technology Program Senior Year
Autumn and Winter Quarters Courses Clinical
Rotations 6 weeks LABM 419 Coagulation 6 weeks
LABM 420 Analysis of Body Fluids 6 weeks
Clinical Chemistry 6 weeks Clinical Hematology
and Coagulation 6 weeks Clinical Microbiology
Spring Quarter - Elective 1 week Phlebotomy 1
week Blood Bank 8 weeks - Research, Specialist,
Generalist, or Outreach
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Strengths of the MTP

• Excellent Education In depth knowledge of health
  and disease
• Small Size of Program Students get to know each
  other and the faculty
• Very good Pre-Med major
• Students are well prepared for the ASCP
  certifying exam
• Med. Techs are in High Demand Many jobs waiting
  after graduation offering competitive salaries

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A Glimpse at Med Tech Student Life...
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Autumn Quarter, Junior Year Chemistry Student
Lab
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Winter Quarter, Junior Year Hematology Student Lab
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Med Tech Senior Year, Clinical Rotations
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GRADUATION !!!
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Medical Technology Program Contact Information

• Email medtech_at_u.washington.edu
• Office UWMC, NW120
• Phone [phone]
• Website www.depts.washington.edu/labweb/Education
  /Medtech