Medical technologists who are also known as clinical laboratory technologists play a vital role in the healthcare systems across the world. The medical technologists who are highly trained usually work in independent laboratories or in hospitals where they use sophisticated equipment and procedures. The medical technologists work in collaboration with other medical professionals. By working closely with other medical and nursing professionals, they ensure that patients get holistic medical attention, which improves their health outcomes. Additionally, they play a pivotal role in that they assist other professionals to work more effectively while delivering healthcare services.
Job Description
The medical technologists have numerous roles that they play in the effort of according care and services to patients. Key among their responsibility is performing and analyzing results from scientific tests, which are carried on bodily fluids and blood. Here the medical technologists analyze tissue, blood samples, and other bodily fluids such as saliva to determine cell count, blood type, or drug levels (American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science- ASCLS, 2017). One should note that medical technologists usually work with infectious specimens, which calls for sterilization and infection control protocols to minimize hazards. In line with this, the medical technologists are also able to search the samples for microorganisms such as parasites and bacteria. Furthermore, the medical technologists prepare the samples for examination, which they test simultaneously and accurately by use of specialized and automated equipment.
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In doing this, the medical technologists are able to determine the cues of illnesses on their patients. More so, they are able to rule out some diseases thus facilitating the work of the physicians. Once the medical tests are analyzed and completed, the medical technologists then work together with laboratory directors or physicians based on the patients’ data.
In line with ensuring that the medical technologists work in collaboration with other professionals to deliver quality medical care, they are guided by a set of code of ethics. The medical technologists must adhere to regulation, standards, principles, and traditions of the American Medical Technologists. In essence, they must commit to accuracy and reliability as the medical outcomes are highly related to the test results (Manen, 2014). More so, the medical technologists must keep abreast with newer technologies and solutions to enhance their work. Furthermore, medical technologists should avoid illegal, dishonest, and unethical practices, which may interfere with the test results (Manen, 2014). The confidentiality and integrity of patients must be upheld at all times to reduce instances of lawsuits. Additionally, the medical technologists are bound to protect the judgment of the physicians who direct laboratory tests.
Education /Registration/Certification
The medical technologist’s career requires asset of educational achievements as it is complex and highly scientific. For one to be considered eligible for this career, he or she should have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. Some of the programs one can take to get absorbed into this career include clinical laboratory science, medical technology, clinical laboratory science, and other health technologies programs. The programs usually take four years to complete, and students are exposed to various topics such as lab management, immunology, and medical ethics among others (ASCLS, 2017). Examples of schools and institutions that train medical technologists include University of California, Irvine (2018). Here the student does not need to pay any tuition fees. However, the students are responsible for catering for his or her parking, textbooks, exams and certification fees, transportation and immunizations (University of California, Irvine, 2018). Another institution which offers medical technology programs is Arizona State University. The program, which takes four years, costs $ 10, 158 for in-state students and $25,458 for out-of-state students (Arizona State University, n.d). Nonetheless, there are other institutions which offer similar packages, and one is called upon to view several of them before choosing the best of them.
Medical technologists require certification before they can be allowed to practice which is dependent on which state they are based. For certification to be complete, the medical technologists must produce their degree certificate as well as a written exam (. More so, medical technologists can be verified by the American Medical Technologists (AMT) agency, which specializes in certifying medical technologists.
Employment Opportunities
The medical technologists’ employment opportunities and availability can be considered high. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the anticipated, growth in employment opportunities for medical technologists and lab workers would be 14% between 2012 and 2022 More so the BLS reports that there will be increased job opportunities for the medical technologists which are a result of fewer trained lab workers (United States Department of Labor, n.d). As at now, there are over 100 job openings for medical technologists across the US. An example is at White Plains Hospital Center New York, USA. The applicants must have a BS or a BA degree in medical technology or any other related field. More so the applicant should have a minimum of one year in Blood Banking experience in an approved clinical laboratory or blood center preferred (White Plains Hospital Center, 2018).
Professional Activities
The medical technologists have varied activities which bring them together. The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) which is the national society is tasked with coming up with local/ state and national activities. More so, it coordinates the local and state professional agencies in establishing, developing, and maintaining the best methods in clinical research and methods. The medical technologists’ journals include the Journal of Bioengineering and Medical Technology , SciTechnol at $ 49 per article, Medical Technologies Journal at $ 150 per issue. The medical technologists need to continuously upgrade their education if they are to have better employment prospects. They can achieve this by getting into continuing education units to equip them with new and emerging technologies. More so continuing education units enhance their profession by opening up new job frontiers, which come with increase salaries (Am ASCLS, 2017).However, each state has its own recommendations regarding these units. For example, California requires 12 contact hours annually while Florida requires 24 hours. Other states such as Georgia and Hawaii have no such requirement. The medical professional organizations can benefit much from medical technologists who are well versed in their field.
Reflection / Personal Career Plan
The medical technologist’s career is a career that feels satisfying and desirable especially for me. The reason for this proposition is the fact that it is highly progressive considering the complexity of the emerging diseases, which continue to plague the modern world. Being able to test and analyze specimens is a great achievement, which would be my career to be more fulfilling. Moreover, a medical technologist career for me is a career that is not only a professional one but also a calling. The fact that medical technologists can be called for duty even during non-working hours shows the critical role they play in the healthcare system; I feel that by being a medical technologist I would be better placed to give back to the society. I do not think that there is any medical profession, which can be successful without the input of a medical technologist. The physicians rely on the technologists to determine the cause of diseases before they can commence any treatment plans. On the other hand, the pharmacology fields rely on such results to give medication to the patients. Having decided to make a career in laboratory medical technology, I will endeavor to enroll in higher levels of education o that I can be the best in the field. I believe that the medical technologist career is evolving thanks to new strains of diseases. As such, one will be required to possess excellent skills and knowledge to cope with these new strains of diseases which I am ready to do.
References
American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS). (2017). Personnel Licensure . http://www.ascls.org/advocacy-issues/licensure
Arizona State University. (n.d). Medical studies, BS . Retrieved on 30 March 2018 from https://chs.asu.edu/programs/medical-studies.
Manen, M.A. (2014). The Ethics of an ordinary medical technology. Qualitative Health Research, 25 (7), 996-1004.
Schulze, M. (2015). State Continuing Education Requirements: An Overview. Special Report. Retrieved on 30 March 2018, from www.wasla.org/state-continuing-education-requirements-overview.
United States Department of Labor. (n.d). Medical and clinical laboratory technologists and technicians. Occupational Outlook Handbook . Retrieved on 30 March 2018 from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Medical-and-clinical-laboratory-technologists-and-technicians.htm.
University of California, Irvine. (2018). Medical technology program. School of Medicine . Retrieved on 30 March 2018 from http://www.pathology.uci.edu/medical-technology-program.asp.
White Plains Hospital Centre. (2018). Jobs and Careers: Medical Technologist Retrieved on 30 March 2018 from https://www.wphospital.org/.
