St. Elizabeth School of Medical Laboratory Science

About Us

The Department of Laboratory Medicine

St. Elizabeth Department of Laboratory Medicine is composed of seven facilities. St. Elizabeth Edgewood, Preferred Lab Partners, and St. Elizabeth Microbiology are the core laboratories. St. Elizabeth Florence, St. Elizabeth Dearborn and St. Elizabeth Ft. Thomas operate intermediate response laboratories. St. Elizabeth Covington and St. Elizabeth Grant operate emergency stat laboratories.

The laboratories at St. Elizabeth Healthcare are modern, cheerful and efficient with state-of-the-art instrumentation. Ten pathologists, a large staff of medical laboratory scientists and other professional personnel provide 24-hour service for the hospital and community. Over 15 million laboratory tests are done at St. Elizabeth Healthcare each year. The laboratory also operates several community phlebotomy centers as part of its outreach program.

Program Officials

St. Elizabeth Healthcare Medical Laboratory Science Program is headed by the Program Director, Traci Kraus, MA(Ed), BA, BS, MLS(ASCP), who undertakes the application and interview process, and assures that the quality standards for accreditation are met within the delivery of student instruction. Additionally, the Program Director is responsible for teaching courses, conducting and managing learning experiences, evaluating student achievement, providing input into curriculum development, formulating policies and procedures, evaluating program effectiveness, scheduling of rotations, organization and compilation of exams and objectives, and maintaining contact with the student representatives and the students. Traci Kraus may be reached at: (859) 301-9489; traci.kraus@stelizabeth.com.

Academic Review Board Members

The Academic Review Board consists of administrative personnel who serve as advisors for the Program. The Medical Director of the PLP Laboratory, Vice President of Patient Services, PLP Laboratory Director, Hematology Manager, a retired Laboratory Director, and an MLS advisor at an affiliate university, head this committee. The Academic Review Board meet to discuss individual students and to give input on the program/curriculum to assist in maintaining current relevancy and effectiveness.

Student Representatives:

The student representatives are a team of Medical Laboratory Scientist and Medical Laboratory Technicians who organize the didactic and clinical instruction of the students within the departments. The representatives are liaisons between the Program Director and the departmental personnel with the responsibility to schedule guest lectures and clinical rotation activities. Representatives also teach lectures, supervise applied laboratory learning experiences, evaluate student achievement, provide input on curriculum, policies and procedures, and evaluate program effectiveness. They are comprised of Medical Laboratory Scientists (ASCP) / Medical Laboratory Technicians (ASCP) or they may be a Supervisor, Lead Tech, or an expert in their department.

Personnel:

All certified lab personnel are encouraged to participate in the program. Student will encounter a variety of instructors and teaching methods during the term of the MLS program.

MLS Program

St. Elizabeth School of Medical Laboratory Science has been in operation since the 1950’s. Curriculum at St. Elizabeth Healthcare Medical Laboratory Science Program consists of an 11-month program of both didactic and supervised clinical training.

Program Information

The School of Medical Laboratory Science is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).

NAACLS
5600 N. River Rd.
Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018-5119
Phone: (773) 714-8880
Fax: (773) 714-8886
http://www.naacls.org/

The St. Elizabeth Healthcare program provides the graduating student the qualifications and resources to take the Board of Certification exam for the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP), or other similar certification exam.

St. Elizabeth School of Medical Laboratory Science is currently affiliated with Miami University, Thomas More University, Western Kentucky University, and Purdue University. Students from affiliated universities may receive credit for courses completed at St. Elizabeth Healthcare and can apply for entrance into the St. Elizabeth School of Medical Laboratory Science. Students that have already obtained a baccalaureate degree may attend if they meet the application requirements.

The school has the resources to handle a maximum of ten students per year. Once accepted, applicants begin the program in early July.

The eleven-month program includes hospital/school orientation and clinical and didactic rotations. Students are exposed to a broad range of techniques, instrumentation and instructors.

The laboratory classroom and student laboratory are utilized by students for formal lectures, classroom clinical experience, and by the staff for continuing education. Reference materials, including audiovisual aids and computers are available in the laboratory and laboratory classroom.

Students are evaluated based on their academic achievement, laboratory performance and professional behavior throughout the program year.

The MLS program awards a certificate upon successful completion of the year. The certificate plus an appropriate baccalaureate degree allows the student to sit for a national certification examination. Granting of the certification is not contingent upon the student passing any type of external certification or licensure examination.

Program Outcomes

NAACLS outcome measures, for the years 2024, 2023, and 2022.

Career Outlook

100% of the graduates of the MLS program found employment in the field, or were accepted into graduate school programs. Most clinical laboratory scientists are employed in a hospital setting. They may choose to perform testing in all areas of the laboratory as a generalist or specialize in one area such as Microbiology. With experience, advanced certification is available. Laboratory management and MLS education are also potential career paths.

The knowledge and skills of the clinical laboratory scientist are valued by other employers such as those in research, forensics, physician office laboratories, veterinary laboratories, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology companies, other industries and sales and service of laboratory equipment and supplies.

There is a critical shortage of certified clinical laboratory scientists and the demand is only increasing each year as new tests are developed and those currently working in the field retire. Salaries can range from $58,000 to over $100,000 depending on experience, geographical location and level of responsibilities.

Program Goals

Upon completion of the St. Elizabeth School of Medical Laboratory Science Program, the medical laboratory scientist will have introductory competency in:

• Performing the full range of clinical laboratory tests in areas of hematology, clinical chemistry, immunohematology, microbiology, serology/immunology, coagulation, and other emerging diagnostics.
• Understanding the relationship between laboratory test results and associated diseases as the basis of diagnostic testing.
• How to play a role in the development and evaluation of test systems and interpretive problem solving.
• Their responsibility in areas of analysis and clinical decision making, regulatory compliance, education, quality assurance and performance improvement wherever laboratory testing is researched, developed, or performed.
• The basic knowledge, skills and relevant experience in communication and interaction with other healthcare members, external relations, customer service and patients.
• The basic knowledge, skills and relevant experience of financial operations, marketing, and human resource management of the clinical laboratory to enable cost-effective, high quality, value added laboratory services.
• The basic knowledge, skills and relevant experience in information management to enable effective, timely, accurate, and cost-effective reporting of laboratory generated information.

Graduate Competencies

Within each discipline, specific course-related objectives will be addressed. Overall graduate competencies are outlined below:

• Develop and establish procedures for collecting, processing, and analyzing biological specimens and other substances.
• Perform analytical tests of body fluids, cells, and other substances.
• Integrate and relate data generated by the various clinical laboratory departments while making decisions regarding possible discrepancies.
• Confirm abnormal results, verify and execute quality control procedures, and develop solutions to problems concerning the generation of laboratory data.
• Make decisions concerning the results of quality control and quality assurance measures, and institute proper procedures to maintain accurac57y and precision.
• Establish and perform preventive and corrective maintenance of equipment and instruments as well as identify appropriate sources for repairs.
• Develop, evaluate, and select new techniques, instruments and methods in terms of their usefulness and practicality within the context of a given laboratory’s personnel, equipment, space and budgetary resources.
• Demonstrate professional conduct and interpersonal skills with patients, laboratory personnel, other health care professionals and the public.
• Establish and maintain continuing education as a function of growth and maintenance of professional competence.
• Provide leadership in education of other health personnel and the community.
• Exercise principles of management, safety and supervision.
• Apply principles of educational methodology.
• Apply principles of current information systems.