Medical Assistant Laboratory Procedures Syllabus for 2019-2020
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Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

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Course

MDCA-1452-001 Medical Assistant Laboratory Procedures

Prerequisites

Course Description

Application of governmental health care guidelines. Includes specimen collection and handling, quality assurance and quality control in performance of Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-waived laboratory testing.

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Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(4 sem hrs; 3 lec, 2 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Clinical Medical Assisting, 6th Edition

ISBN-10: 1305964810
ISBN-13: 9781305964815

Wilburta (Billie) Q. Lindh, Carol D. Tamparo, Barbara M. Dahl, Julie Morris, Cindy Correa

Account Access to Cengage Mindtap (If an account is already created for other courses using the same textbook, a new account purchase is NOT required, it's the same)

The lab math portion of this course will not require any additional textbooks

Course Description: Application of governmental health care guidelines. Includes specimen collection and handling, quality assurance and quality control in performance of Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-waived laboratory testing. Skill development in the performance of a variety of blood collection methods using proper techniques and Universal Precautions.  Includes vacuum collection devices, syringes, capillary skin puncture, butterfly needles and blood culture systems, along with specimen collection on adults, children, and infants. Emphasis on infection prevention, proper patient identification, labeling of specimens, quality assurance, specimen handling, processing, and accessioning. Discussing requirements for HIPAA. Topics for lecture include professionalism, ethics, medical terminology, related anatomy, physiology, and utilization of laboratory equipment.

Course Objectives: At the end of this course, the participant should be able to:

• Explain the reasons for performing laboratory testing.
• Describe the main similarities and differences between an independent laboratory and a             physicians’ office laboratory (POL).
• Explain the levels of laboratory personnel in relation to their education, skills, and duties,             and where the medical assistant is placed in the hierarchy.
• List eight different departments within the medical laboratory and determine the types of             testing performed within each of those departments.
• Name nine of the most common laboratory panels and explain the body system or     function             being surveyed.
• Correlate the concepts of quality control and quality assurance in the medical laboratory.
• Describe at least three methods of ensuring quality in the medical laboratory.
• Demonstrate how to correctly complete a laboratory requisition.
• Justify the rationale behind proper patient preparation before laboratory testing.
• Explain where accurate and reliable information might be obtained about proper             procurement,   storage, and handling of laboratory specimens.
• Demonstrate the proper use and care of a compound microscope.
•  Explain the medical assistant’s responsibility to the patient in terms of quality of care and             respect for the patient as a human being.
•  Explain why the medical assistant has a special responsibility to present a neat, pleasant, and             competent demeanor.
•  Inventory a collection tray, explain the supplies and equipment used in blood collections, and             demonstrate the ability to use them safely and comfortably.
•  Explain the importance of correct patient identification; complete specimen labeling; and             proper handling, storage, and delivery.
•  Summarize the step-by-step procedure for drawing blood with a syringe, vacuum tube system,             butterfly, or capillary puncture.
•  Choose appropriate blood collection tubes in proper order of draw.
•  Apply proper guidelines for handling specimens to eliminate rejection of specimens by the             laboratory.
•  Explain how to handle the various reactions a patient might have to venipuncture.

Course Outline:

Laboratory Procedures

Introduction

37. Regulatory Guidelines for Safety and Quality in the Medical Laboratory

38. Introduction to the Medical Laboratory

39. Phlebotomy: Venipuncture and Capillary Puncture

40. Hematology

41. Urinalysis

42. Basic Microbiology

43. Specialty Laboratory Tests

Supplies

Calculator (scientific)

Pens & pencils

Lap top computer/tablet for class with Respondus Lockdown Browser installed

Internet access

Student Performance

COURSE OUTCOMES

Demonstrate laboratory safety; perform laboratory math; and describe quality control; demonstrate the use of laboratory equipment; and explain accreditation and certification.

Specific Learning/behavorial objectives for each lecture section are distriubuted as part of hte lecture handout.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Academic dishonesty shall constitute a violation of the college rules and regulations and is punish

•  Copying from another student's test/assignment paper.
• Using test materials not authorized by the person administering the test/assignment (ex: notes, books, etc).
• Collaborating with or seeking aid from another student during a test/assignment without permission from the test/assignment administrator/instructor.
• Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, or soliciting, in whole or in part, the contents of an administered/unadministered test/assignment.
• The unauthorized transporting or removal, in whole or in part, of the contents of the administered/unadministered test/assignment.
• Substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for one's self, to take a test/assignment.
• Bribing another person to obtain an administered/unadministered test/assignment or information about an administered/unadministered test/assignment.

Plagiarism shall be defined as the appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another's work and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one's own written work.

Collusion shall be defined as the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work for fulfillment of course requirements.

WORK ETHICS
Amarillo College and the Medical Laboratory Technology program are committed to developing knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors in students so that they can obtain entry-level employment and advance in their chosen profession. Great measures are taken to ensure that the curriculum is updated and that equipment is purchased and kept at industry level, as much as possible. Program Advisory committees meet annually to ensure that the curriculum meets the needs of the local medical community as well as the program's national accrediting agency.

We are committed to providing these things to ensure that a graduate has the skills and knowledge to obtain and advance in their chosen profession. Therefore, professional education must address more than academic and skills training in order to meet this challenge. Business and industry state that their greatest need is for employees who possess strong work ethics. Therefore, we accept the challenge of providing not only academic and hands-on training but also work ethics training to students. The work ethics program is important because it provides the link between academic knowledge, skills training and successful employment in the workforce. The program focuses on those behaviors expected in a professional environment.

The following work ethics have been identified as being most important to professional employers, and will be covered and evaluated on a weekly basis, each semester, throughout the program:

• Attendance
• Character
• Teamwork
• Appearance
• Attitude
• Productivity
• Organization
• Communication
• Cooperation
• Respect

NOTE: If a student is absent during a scheduled lecture/lab period, he/she cannot be awarded points for work ethics during that missed lecture/lab period.

PHONES AND SMART WATCHES
Phones and smart watches should be turned-off  or set to silence during class time. If the student anticipates an emergency during class time, they should leave the number for the Student Services Office with their contact. The number is 371-5300.

1. Being asked to leave class for the remainder of the day
2. Mandatory conference with the Assistant Dean of Career and Technical Programs
3. Conference with the Dean of Students and a permanent entry in the student's official program record
   
   The ONLY exception that will be made is if the student has discussed the situation with their instructor beforehand, and ONLY for emergency purposes.

  

 

Grading Criteria

The lecture, laboratory,work ethics, and final exams components of this course will be weighted as follows:

Lecture = 55% of total grade

Lab = 10% of total grade

Work Ethics = 5% of total grade

Final exams = 30 % of total grade

The grading scale used for this course will be applied as follows:  

• A = 90.0% - 100.0% of the total points possible for this course
• B = 80.0% - 89.9% of the total points possible for this course
• C = 70.0% - 79.9% of the total points possible for this course
• F = 69.9% or less of the total points possible for this course

NOTE: A grade of 'D' is not possible

Points earned throughout the semester WILL NOT be rounded when computing the final semester grade.

INCOMPLETES
Incompletes are granted only for emergency situations such as hospitalization of the student just prior to the final exam, serious injury to the student on the day of the final exam, etc. Incompletes will not be granted for situations involving vacation plans, transportation difficulties, appointments, etc. Students who need to request an incomplete must do so prior to the scheduled time of the final exam with appropriate documentation given to the instructor.

DROPPING/WITHDRAWING FROM CLASSES
No administrative drops/withdrawals will be initiated by program officials.  It is the responsibility of each student to drop or withdraw from a course. Students can drop a course via WebAdvisor, and must do so prior to the last day to drop/withdraw as posted on the Amarillo College Master Calendar. Students should be aware that failure to attend class does NOT result in being automatically dropped from a course, and WILL result in a grade of “F”. 

Students should be advised that they may repeat a MLAB course only one time, and may repeat no more than two courses while enrolled in the program. The term “repeat” shall be interpreted to mean re-enrollment following withdrawal, drop or an unsatisfactory grade from a class. Students who are forced to completely withdraw from the college during a given semester may re-apply for admission to the program. Once the student has actually begun the program, he/she must complete all MLAB major courses within 36 months.

Examinations and quizzes may not be made up..  If a student experiences problems with their computer or internet provider, or if the student is out of town, they can access ACOnline from any computer connected to the internet.  Students should not wait until the last minute to sign on to take the exam or quiz.  Math exams and the final exam will be given in the classroom and are posted on the calendar. Late assignments will not be taken.  The student is strongly encouraged to view the course calendar at regular intervals to keep track of all due dates.

The final grade for this course will be based on the following categories:

1. Class attendance, participation, lab etiquette, lab safety  (Work Ethics - weekly grade)
2. Work ethics/ Discussion Board assignments (Work Ethics)
3. Laboratory assignments/study questions (Lab)
4. Examinations (Lecture)
5. Homework and quizzes (Lecture)
6. Compressive final exam (30% of total grade)

MANDATORY SKILLS BUILDING/TUTORING

In an effort to increase retention in MLT courses, and to assist students having difficulty understanding complex subject areas, any student who scores below a 75% on any exam (excluding the Final Exam) must complete a mandatory skills building assignment before taking the next exam. Before receiving a skills assignment, students must first schedule a time with the instructor. The assignment will be given at that time.

 

Attendance

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class. Attendance is included in the Work Ethic grade throughout the course which is a component of the overall grade for this course. Attendance includes arriving for class late and leaving early. Less than 90% attendance in a course may result in failure of the course. Students are required to notify faculty in advance of class absence.

Attendance will be noted in this course. Students will be expected to log-in to the course at least twice per week.

Calendar

Additional Information

Amarillo College and Community Resources for Students in Need