McLeod School of Medical Technology Essential Functions

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The following are essential academic and non-academic requirements of the program. These skills are required in order to successfully participate in the Program.

I. Physical Demands (observation, communication, psychomotor)

a. Ability to move around the laboratory and medical center while demonstrating safety for myself.
b. Ability to operate delicate instruments or equipment or to perform delicate procedures using the senses of smell, vision and somatic sensation while demonstrating safety for myself and others.
c. Ability to use a microscope with speed, accuracy, and precision in a manner that does not endanger others.
d. Ability to constantly carry trays and objects weighing up to 10 pounds and occasionally carrying objects of 30 pounds while demonstrating safety for myself and others.
e. Ability to observe with normal or corrected vision and ability to discriminate colors, odors, viscosity or clarity of biological specimens. For example, a student must be able to operate analytical instruments safely and accurately, identify microscopic structures, differentiate fine detail, and identify organisms.
f. Good hand-eye and fine motor coordination/manual dexterity to fulfill the technical requirements of the Program and the profession while demonstrating safety for myself and others.
g. Ability to communicate in English effectively and efficiently both verbally and in writing. The student must be able to effectively instruct patients if required. Students applying whose college course work and/or degree has taken place at institutions other than accredited American colleges or universities must demonstrate English language competency (see Handbook).

II. Emotional Demands (Behavioral, Social Attributes and Ethical Standards)

a. Ability to work in a fast-paced, stressful, changing environment with speed, accuracy, and precision. For example, the student may be exposed to instrument noise, emergency situations, several persons working in his/her immediate vicinity, unpleasant odors or sights, pathogens, and blood/body fluids.
b. Ability to organize work and direct others; to exercise independent judgement; to assume responsibility for own work and after the work of others.
c. Ability to communicate and maintain ethical professional relationships with patients, physicians, and others in the hospital setting (written and oral).
d. Ability to think logically, and correlate information in order to solve problems.
e. Ability to exercise ethical judgement, integrity, honesty, dependability, and accountability in the clinical laboratory testing environment and in the classroom setting.
f. Ability to demonstrate adherence to patient confidentiality, the academic, and professional code of ethics. This includes adherence to the McLeod Regional Medical Center Drug and Smoke Free Campus Policy.
g. Ability to work safely with sharps, biohazards, and hazardous material.
h. Ability to project a neat, well-groomed physical appearance.
i. Ability to use interpersonal skills such as communication, cooperation, confidentiality, and attentiveness in a positive and tactful manner, to communicate with peers, faculty, and other members of the healthcare team effectively and respectfully.
j. Ability to take instruction from the faculty respectfully. For example, the student will be interacting with fellow students, faculty members both in lectures and on practicum, as well as coming into contact with nurses, physicians, nursing unit technicians, phlebotomists, and others both in person and on the telephone if required. In the Phlebotomy rotation the student will be interacting with the public. Instructors will correct students in order to aid in instruction.
k. Ability to accept constructive criticism in a positive manner.

III. Academic, Intellectual and Cognitive Abilities

a. Ability to work in a thorough, careful, efficient, and organized manner, independently, in small groups, and as a member of the laboratory team. For example, a student will be expected to take initiative in asking questions, performing required work in the practicum, participating in class discussions, working as a member of a problem-solving team, and performing as colleagues with their professional counterparts in the laboratory.
b. Ability to practice critical thinking in using problem solving, common sense, critical evaluation, decision making skills, and objectivity in approaching laboratory problems. To comprehend, analyze, reason, measure, calculate, synthesize, integrate and apply information in problem solving and to the outcome of laboratory test procedures.
c. Ability to obtain information in English from lectures, laboratory demonstrations and/or exercises, and independent study assignments. Ability to sit for written or oral examinations, complete written assignments, deliver presentations in English, and perform laboratory practice with and without supervision.
d. Ability to sit for written, oral, or practical examinations, complete assignments and exams on time, orally present a formal project presentation in English, write a project report, use computers, and perform a variety of laboratory activities with and without supervision.
e. Ability to operate computers with speed, accuracy, and precision in a manner that does not endanger others.

Upon acceptance into the program, the student will be required to sign a form stating that they have read and understand the essential functions of the program.

Student recruitment and admission shall be non-discriminatory in accordance with local, state and federal regulations. Preference is given to students from the Pee Dee area of South Carolina in accordance with the School’s mission.