School of Medical Technology


Mission Statement The mission of the LMC's School of Medical Technology is to provide superior education to future medical technologists by integrating theoretical concepts with clinical experiences. The program is committed to prepare the student with the skills, knowledge, and technology that are required to fulfill professional roles and leadership positions. Program curricula develop the student's communication skills and analytical reasoning. The Program is also committed to providing students with resources for success as they begin their new positions as members of the health care team.
	For more Information: Ann Beaman, MT(ASCP)SH Program Director School of Medical Technology Lexington Medical Center, Laboratory 2720 Sunset Boulevard West Columbia, SC 29169 Phone: (803) 936-8126 ajbeaman@lexhealth.org
Medical Technology is a career that combines the challenges of medicine with scientific knowledge. Medical Technologists (also called Clinical Laboratory Scientists) work in laboratories performing a wide range of tests that play an important role in the detection and treatment of diseases and disorders. These laboratory tests can be simple to complex often requiring the use of microscopes, state-of-the-art instruments, and computers. In a clinical setting, medical technologists perform and/or supervise the performance of analytical testing of blood, body fluids, and other types of biological specimens. They may test for the presence of bacteria, fungi, or parasites or prepare units of blood for transfusion. Typical areas in the clinical hospital setting are Hematology, Chemistry, Immunology, Blood Bank, and Microbiology. Medical technologists are trained to use skills of critical thinking, problem solving, and analyzing situations that arise in the clinical laboratory. Using their technical skills and knowledge of disease states, medical technologists are an integral part of patient diagnosis and treatment. Careers in medical technology are available in hospital laboratories, forensic laboratories, reference laboratories, molecular diagnostics, veterinary offices, doctor's offices, management, industry, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries, medical sales, and educational and research institutions. Work Opportunities Weekend and part-time work opportunities may be available after competency in the area is obtained. No more than 12 hours a week is advised. Student must be in good academic standing. Career Opportunities The Program Director will assist graduates in finding employment. Graduates will be encouraged to apply to available medical technology positions within the Lexington Medical Center and to other hospital laboratories in the Midlands of South Carolina. Average starting salary in the Southeast United States is approximately $33,000 although salaries vary by area of the country. Experienced supervisors' and managers' average salaries range from $41,000 to $56,000.

Accreditation The Lexington Medical Center School of Medical Technology is accredited with the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). The address and phone number for NAACLS is: 8410 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 670 Chicago, Illinois 60631 (773) 714-8880
Lexington Medical Center Laboratory The LMC Laboratory offers a full range of services that provide fast, accurate information for diagnosis and treatment decisions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The main lab also supports the testing from all LMC owned ambulatory care sites, physician offices, occupational health service, and LMC Respiratory Therapy as well as independent physician offices. The College of American Pathologists (CAP) has continuously accredited our lab since 1978. The laboratory has a staff of over 100 employees and 7 pathologists and performs over 800,000 tests annually. Overview of the program The Medical Technology training program is 12 months in length beginning and ending in August. Up to four students are enrolled at a time. Enrollment is kept small for a high instructor-to-student ratio. Combining structured lectures and clinical practicums provides the necessary learning experiences. The faculty is composed of pathologists (board certified in Laboratory Medicine) and medical technologists, many of who have specialty certifications. Curriculum includes Phlebotomy, Blood Bank and Transfusion Medicine, Microbiology (including Mycology /Parasitology/ Virology), Chemistry, Hematology, Hemostasis, Urinalysis and Body Fluids Analysis, Immunology, Education and Management. Students are graded in affective, cognitive, and psychomotor achievement for each course. Students must pass each area of each course to complete the program. Upon completion of the program, a student should have entry-level competencies of a medical technologist and will be eligible to take national certification exams. Each student is awarded a certificate upon successful completion of the program. Graduation from the program is not contingent upon passing a certification exam. Schedule of Classes and Clinicals Clinical experience is carefully interwoven with classroom instruction to ensure sequenced reinforcement of theoretical concepts. Classroom and clinical experiences are generally scheduled Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Academic Acceptance Requirements Baccalaureate graduates. Curriculum must include the following: Sixteen semester hours of biological sciences, including a 4-hour course in Microbiology and one 3-hour course in Immunology. Sixteen semester hours of chemistry, including one 4-hour course in organic chemistry or biochemistry. One course in college level mathematics. One 3-hour course in genetics. Courses strongly recommended: Statistics, computer science, and management. The content of the chemistry and biological science courses must be acceptable towards a major in those fields of study. Survey and remedial courses do not qualify as prerequisites. For admission to the program students will need a minimum overall cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale and a 3.0 GPA in science-related courses. A lower GPA or missing course may be considered at the discretion of the Program Director. The student must also have the ability to perform essential functions that include manual dexterity, fine motor skills, mobility, vision (ability to distinguish colors, clear from cloudy, and objects through a microscope), read and write in the English language, communicate with others, and operate a computer. Any applicant whose native language is other than English must take the TOEFL exam. Acceptable score is 550 (written) and 213 (computer). Students with foreign degrees must present documentation that they are legally eligible for employment in the US and have their course work evaluated by an approved agency. Applicants who met the minimum academic requirements seven or more years prior to application must update their academic preparation. Contact the Program Director for further information. Application Procedure To apply, submit the following: Completed application form Official college transcripts TOEFL score, if English is not their native language Three letters of recommendation (two of the three letters should be written by a chemistry and a biology instructor). Selected applicants will be notified for a personal interview. All applicants are considered equally without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, veteran status, or disability. Accepted students are scheduled for a free drug screen prior to clinical assignment and must produce a negative drug screen as required for all LMC employees. Expenses There is no tuition. Student stipends are available. Textbooks will be provided. Students are expected to adhere to the laboratory dress code. Suggested allowance is $80.00. Safety lab coats will be provided. Students are responsible for their own transportation, housing, and personal expenses. Meals may be obtained in the hospital cafeteria at reasonable cost. Students are covered under PHT (LMC workers compensation insurance carrier). Work related accidents would be treated in the emergency room facility. Health insurance is the student's responsibility.

Clinical Courses MT 400 Laboratory Operations MT 460 Phlebotomy MT 425 Clinical Microbiology MT 430 Mycology/ Parasitology/ Virology MT 420 Clinical Chemistry MT 455 Clinical Immunology MT 405 Clinical Hematology MT 410 Clinical Hemostasis MT 440 Urinalysis and Body Fluids Analysis MT 450 Blood Bank and Transfusion Medicine MT 415 Education and Management A "C" or better average must be maintained in these courses.
Enrichment opportunities include DHEC (Hemoglobin Electrophoresis, Parasitology, and Molecular Diagnostics to include pulse field gel electrophoresis, PCR, and DNA sequence analysis), SLED (drug testing, DNA analysis, and toxicology), Palmetto Health Richland for flow cytometry, and Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Molecular Diagnostics Labs.