Medical Laboratory Science Program Technical Standards for Admission and Matriculation

PCOM requires all applicants who are offered admission and all enrolled students to meet specific technical standards. These standards describe the functional abilities and professional capacities considered necessary to participate in the curriculum and to provide safe, effective patient care.

The technical standards are separate from academic requirements. They focus on essential abilities required for participation in classroom learning, laboratory instruction, clinical skills training, and supervised patient care. The standards are intended to ensure that students are able to meet the demands of medical education and clinical practice.

These standards may be met with or without reasonable accommodations. They are not intended to exclude individuals with disabilities who can fulfill program requirements with appropriate accommodations consistent with applicable law.

Important Notice

This information is presented for reference only. The technical standards form will be provided to admitted applicants. Official matriculation and continued enrollment in a degree program cannot be confirmed unless the technical standards form is completed and returned.

Disability Accommodations and Support

Students who have an ADA-recognized disability and who require accommodations related to one or more technical standards should contact PCOM Disability Services for guidance on the accommodation process. Requests for accommodations generally require documentation supporting both the disability and the specific accommodations being requested.

Each request is evaluated individually to determine whether the accommodation is reasonable and whether it allows the student to meet the essential requirements of the program without compromising patient safety, educational standards, or professional expectations.

Disability Services may be contacted at disabilityservices@pcom.edu.

Cultural and Religious Considerations

Requests related to cultural practices or religious beliefs are not addressed through the disability accommodation process, as they are not considered ADA-recognized disabilities. Students who believe that cultural traditions or religious requirements may affect their ability to meet one or more technical standards are encouraged to contact the Equal Opportunity and Access Team.

Such requests may be reviewed and discussed; however, approval is not guaranteed and depends on the essential requirements of the academic program.

The Equal Opportunity and Access Team may be contacted at titleixcoordinator@pcom.edu.

Technical Standards

The graduate student in Medical Laboratory Science must have the knowledge and skills to function in a broad variety of academic and research situations, and function effectively in classroom, laboratory, and clinical settings. In order to carry out the activities described below, Medical Laboratory Science students must be able to consistently and accurately integrate all information received, and must have the ability to learn, integrate, analyze, and synthesize data.

A student must have abilities and skills including observation; communication; motor; conceptual, integrative, and quantitative; behavioral and social. Technological compensation can be made in some areas, but a candidate must be able to perform the tasks in a reasonably independent manner.

General

1. Assess and make appropriate judgments regarding lab processes and patient outcomes.
2. Prioritize and perform laboratory testing.
3. Respond and adapt to a variety of situations, including patient care situations, staffing shortages, and crisis.
4. Communicate effectively in English, both oral and in written.
5. Participate in discussion with peers, the clinical arena and with colleagues and patients.
6. Acquire information developed through didactic instruction and clinical experiences.
7. Comprehend reading assignments and to search, evaluate and develop further literature.
8. Prepare professional, original written assignments and maintain written records.
9. Perform duties and assignments in a timely fashion while under stress and in a variety of settings.
10. Meet deadlines and exhibit time management skills.
11. Utilize technology for instructional assignments, research published literature, and documenting patient care activities.

Physical and Motor Skills

1. Fine motor skills to grasp, pinch, push, pull, finger, hold, extend, rotate, and cut. Dexterity with both wrists, use hands and arms, and dexterity with all fingers.(Examples: grasping samples, twist/turn caps, hold steady, pinch tubing, push pipettes, adjust knobs, push/pull small objects within micrometer adjusted specifications, reach for objects, extend arms or legs, rotate or pivot in small spaces within limited space)
2. Ability to obtain and/or verify patient samples without shaking, dropping, or otherwise spilling of material.
3. Sufficient stamina to tolerate physical conditions involving long periods of standing, sitting, crouched, or confined periods.
4. Ability to operate, manipulate and evaluate the status of laboratory instruments and equipment.

Sensory Skills

1. Visual acuity with both eyes; visual perception with respect to depth and color.
2. Ability to detect odors.

Cognitive, Integrative, Quantitative Skills

1. Ability to measure, calculate, analyze, interpret, synthesize, and evaluate data and results as applicable to clinical practice.
2. Ability to solve one or more problems within specific time frames, using prioritization, critical thinking, and analysis to achieve patient care.
3. Ability to comprehend spatial relationships relevant to equipment design, working ability, and troubleshooting to involve repair, alignment, and organization.

Affective, Behavioral and Social Skills

1. Function as part of a team with ability to communicate effectively in English, consult, negotiate, share, and delegate.
2. Delegate tasks to and supervise others to perform duties and achieve excellent patient care.
3. Adhere to safety guidelines for self and colleagues.
4. Comply with standards and regulations required by external agencies including CLIA, CAP, COLA,The Joint Commission, and OSHA.
5. Follow instructions and procedures with accuracy and precision.
6. Maintain intellectual and emotional stability and maturity under stress, while also maintaining appropriate performance standards.
7. Learn and exhibit professional attributes daily. (Examples: honesty, integrity, ability to accept criticism, arrive on time, be neat and tidy with regard to personal hygiene, clothing neat, clean, and presentable, show initiative to learn new tasks, perform job with enthusiasm, be ready to start work upon arrival, do not gossip or engage in derogatory conversation regarding profession, school, or clinical affiliate)

Professional Standards

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine maintains a Medical Laboratory Science curriculum that stresses clinical application of laboratory science concepts. As part of this training, students must participate in activities involving patient samples. It is mandatory that all matriculating students understand and accept these professional responsibilities including fulfilling professional responsibilities to peers, faculty, and patients, demonstrating professional demeanor at all times, and adhering to appropriate dress standards. Successful completion of the curriculum requires that each student demonstrate proficiency and professionalism with all aspects of the Medical Laboratory Science instruction.