MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY

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MEDICAL LABORATORYTECHNOLOGY

• A presentation to the National Forum on
• Changing Entry-to-Practice Requirements
• in Allied Health Professions
• Ottawa
• April 4 2003

Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science -
Société Canadienne de Science de Laboratoire
Médical
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OUTLINE

• PLANS
• RATIONALE
• CHALLENGES/ISSUES

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CSMLS PLANS FOR CHANGING ENTRY-TO-PRACTICE
REQUIREMENTS

• Prior Activities
• Position Statement
• CSMLS Entry Level Steering Committee

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PLANSPrior Activities

• History of discussions about degrees
• Task Force on Entry to the Profession

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PLANSCSMLS Position Statement

• In order to prepare future medical laboratory
  technologists to practice in an increasingly
  complex health care environment, CSMLS supports a
  transition to a baccalaureate education at the
  entry-to-practice level for medical laboratory
  technologists by the year 2010.
• CJMLS 2001 63(5)167

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PLANSThe Entry-LevelSteering Committee

• Continuing dialogue
• Completion of response to ACHDHR template
• Construction of new competency profile
• Development of career ladder

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RATIONALE FOR CHANGE

• Practice-based issues
• Educational issues
• The need for educational reform

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RATIONALEPractice-based issues

• Changing healthcare/work environments
• Changing professional demographics
• The professional glass ceiling
• Declining employer support for professional
  development
• Introduction of regulatory bodies

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RATIONALEEducational Issues

• Numerous changes in educational system
• Funding
• Preparation for postsecondary education
• Teaching/learning philosophies
• Learners expectations
• Declining employer support for education ...

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Educational Issuescontinued

• New expectations from employers
• Recurring patterns of professional shortage
• New educational models
• Current trends in MLT education

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RATIONALEThe need for educational reform

• Traditional responses to change
• Top-down government approach
• Collaborative professional/educational approach
• However it is no longer sufficient to do what we
  have always done.

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CHALLENGES/ISSUES

• 1. Establishing links
• 2. Creating the necessary data/resources
• 3. Taking action despite ambivalence and
  uncertainty
• 4. Building on existing strengths and
  acknowledging concerns
• 5. Ensuring that the needs of the health care
  system and its professionals are met

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CONCLUSION

• We believe that educated, skilled, and adaptable
  medical laboratory technologists are essential to
  ensure positive patient outcomes in the Canadian
  health care system and that the best way to
  prepare these technologists is through a
  CSMLS-accredited baccalaureate education.