School of Medical Laboratory Science

RRMC School of Medical Laboratory Science mission statement

Rapides Regional Medical Center (RRMC) Laboratory, through the efforts of its associated employees and physicians, will provide high quality, efficient, and compassionate health care services for our patients and community by educating and training MLS students in a fast-paced clinical laboratory setting. This is accomplished by integrating theoretical concepts with clinical experiences.

About the program

• The Program is 12-months in length.
• No more than eight students are enrolled at a time.
• The MLS Program accepts both Baccalaureate degreed students that meet the criteria outlined in application requirements and MLS students attending one of our affiliates.
• The current universities/colleges affiliated with the RRMC MLS Program are:
  • Louisiana Christian University – Pineville, Louisiana

  • Louisiana State University at Alexandria – Alexandria, Louisiana

  • Louisiana State University at Shreveport-Shreveport, Louisiana

  • Louisiana Tech University – Ruston, Louisiana

  • McNeese State University – Lake Charles, Louisiana

  • Northwestern State University – Natchitoches, Louisiana

  • University of Louisiana at Monroe – Monroe, Louisiana

• There are two start dates: February and August.
• The program combines clinical experience with classroom instruction. Classroom and clinical experiences are scheduled weekdays only (40 hours a week). No second or third shifts are required. The times for scheduled hours, holidays, and mid-term break are available from the program director upon request.
• All required clinical instruction is held on the main campus of Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria, Louisiana. There are no other clinical facilities associated with the program.
• No advanced placement is offered at RRMC in the School of Medical Laboratory Science.
• All prerequisite coursework must be completed before the start of the program.

Faculty

The lectures for the program curriculum are taught by the MLS Program Director and Medical Laboratory Scientists with at least one-year experience. Each clinical rotation has an assigned coordinator who directs the bench clinical instruction. A complete didactic and clinical faculty list is available upon request.

Course descriptions

Credit hours are awarded by universities. Please visit your university or college website for details. Coursework will include:

Clinical Management/Phlebotomy/Lab Math

This course includes a basic introduction to the theory, practical application, technical performance and evaluation of laboratory skills specific to the practice of medical laboratory science. Laboratory safety; microscopy; pipetting; general laboratory equipment; quality control; mathematics; phlebotomy; preanalytical, analytic and post-analytic processes, including specimen collection, processing and transport to maintain test result integrity, will be addressed.

Clinical Hematology/Coagulation

A study of the production, maturation, and morphology of normal and abnormal human blood cells. Includes the pathological changes in morphology, cytochemistry, molecular diagnostics, and distribution of cells in peripheral blood and bone marrow. Also includes the theory, practical application, technical performance and evaluation of hematological and hemostasis procedures. Emphasis is on the correlation of clinical laboratory data with the diagnosis and treatment of erythrocyte, leukocyte and bleeding/clotting disorders.

Clinical Hematology/Coagulation Lab

This course provides the experience in an affiliated clinical facility. Students will gain exposure to the clinical environment in a supervised application of learned theory and practice. Students will experience working with patients and performing procedures required of a medical laboratory scientist. Includes manual and automated methods for blood counts, hemoglobin measurement and other hematology parameters. Also includes quality control and quality assurance processes. Coagulation and hemostasis is included in the Hematology lab.

Clinical Urinalysis

Introduction to the study of urine and body fluid analysis. Includes the anatomy and physiology of the kidney, physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine, cerebrospinal fluid, and other body fluids as well as quality control, quality assurance, and safety. Fundamental principles of urine and body fluid analysis with correlation to laboratory methods and practice are covered.

Clinical Urinalysis Lab

This course provides the experience in an affiliated clinical facility. Students will gain exposure to the clinical environment in a supervised application of learned theory and practice. Students will experience working with patients and performing procedures required of a medical laboratory scientist. Supervised practice in a hospital laboratory in the analysis of urine and other body fluids. Includes basic maintenance, patient and QC interpretation and analysis.

Clinical Chemistry

Introduction to the basic principles and procedures of clinical chemistry. Lecture and lab are devoted to chemical analysis of blood and other body fluids. Lab safety, specimen

collection/handling/storage, lab mathematics, basic lab instrumentation and automation, data management, reference range determination and quality control monitoring will be stressed throughout the course. Methodologies discussed include spectrophotometry, immunodiagnostics and computer-generated analyses. MLS student will learn to correlate lab results to normal and abnormal physiology.

Clinical Chemistry Lab

This course provides the experience in an affiliated clinical facility. Students will gain exposure to the clinical environment in a supervised application of learned theory and practice. Students will experience working with patients and performing procedures required of a medical laboratory scientist. Will include principles of chemical analysis, quality control, lab utilization, and safety. MLS student will learn to analyze and interpret both patient values and QC values.

Clinical Immunology

This course offers an overview of the fundamentals of clinical diagnosis and management of disease by immunological and molecular biology laboratory methods. Normal immune function as well as pathological conditions and application to laboratory testing are covered.

Clinical Immunology Lab

This course provides the experience in an affiliated clinical facility. Students will gain exposure to the clinical environment in a supervised application of learned theory and practice. Students will experience working with patients and performing procedures required of a medical laboratory scientist. The Immunology Lab will include analysis and interpretation of immunologic procedures, patient results, and quality control and will encompass more than one clinical department.

Clinical Microbiology

Study of bacteria associated with infectious diseases. Includes microbial taxonomy, physiology, genetics, molecular diagnostics and host-parasite relationships as they apply to clinical microbiology. Pathogens of particular organ systems, pathogenesis of infectious disease, clinical manifestations, etiology and epidemiology of disease are covered. Interpretation of test results and clinical relevance utilizing case studies. Study of medical microbiology covering areas of clinical parasitology, mycobacteriology, clinical virology, clinical mycology, and miscellaneous and emerging pathogens.

Clinical Microbiology Lab

This course provides the experience in an affiliated clinical facility. Students will gain exposure to the clinical environment in a supervised application of learned theory and practice. Students will experience working with patients and performing procedures required of a medical laboratory scientist. This course introduces basic practices and principles of diagnostic microbiology, focusing on pathogenic bacteria encountered in the body (blood, central nervous system, and GI tract). It includes application of common algorithms for identification of clinically significant pathogens including aerobic gram-positive cocci, gram-negative bacilli, gram-negative cocci, gram-positive bacilli, and anaerobes. The course introduces principles and procedures of immunological and molecular diagnostic techniques and their application to the clinical lab.

Clinical Parasitology and Mycology Lecture

A study of the taxonomy, morphology, and pathogenesis of human parasites and fungi, including the practical application of laboratory procedures, quality control, quality assurance, and safety.

Clinical Parasitology and Mycology Lab

This course provides the experience in an affiliated clinical facility. Students will gain exposure to the clinical environment in a supervised application of learned theory and practice. Students will experience working with patients and performing procedures required of a medical laboratory scientist. Introduces the fields of medical mycology and medical parasitology. Focuses on the clinically significant fungi and covers specimen processing and diagnostic procedures for the cultivation and identification of fungal pathogens. Identifies characteristics, life cycles, pathogenicity and testing methods for selected relevant parasites.

Clinical Immunohematology

This course will include the fundamentals of blood group immunology, pre-transfusion testing of patient blood and donor blood for compatibility. Also includes the study of antigens, antibodies and their properties in clinically significant blood group systems. ABO & Rh typing, compatibility testing and special tests. Antibody screen and identification. Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia and Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn. Transfusion therapy, hazards of transfusion and investigation of transfusion reactions. Donor selection, collection of donor blood and testing for infectious agents. Preparation, storage and utilization of blood components. Regulations, medico-legal and ethical aspects of transfusion services.

Clinical Immunohematology Lab

This course provides the experience in an affiliated clinical facility. Students will gain exposure to the clinical environment in a supervised application of learned theory and practice. Students will experience working with patients and performing procedures required of a medical laboratory scientist.

An introduction to the basic theory and concepts of antigen-antibody reaction as they pertain to blood cell transfusions. Blood group antigens and the genetics of their inheritance are covered. Methods are taught for performing blood grouping, compatibility testing, and component selection.

Tuition and fees

There is no tuition required to attend the medical laboratory science program. The School of Medical Laboratory Science is financially supported by Rapides Regional Medical Center. If students are registering through their university then they will have to pay their universities tuition and fees. Each student is responsible for purchasing textbooks and uniforms, including a white lab jacket.

Degreed students are accepted as long as they meet the criteria in the application requirements. Questions can be emailed to the MLS Program Director, Elizabeth Duck.

Application requirements

• There is no fee for applying. All required documents must be received by the deadline for the student’s application to be considered for an interview. The following are required for a complete application:
  • Signed and completed Medical Laboratory Science School Application for Admission.
  • Signed Statement of Understanding for Essential Requirements (Submit only the signature page.)
  • One copy of college transcript (2.5 or higher GPA). Include all transcripts if student has attended more than one university.
  • Two letters of recommendation. Both recommendations MUST be an instructor in a science course. One recommendation should be from your advisor.
  • Personal statement explaining your interest in medical laboratory science. One to two paragraphs is sufficient.
  • Transcript evaluation completed by advisor. (If degreed, the transcript evaluation can be completed by the RRMC MLS Program Director)
• The MLS student must have completed all pre-clinical MLS classes required by their university and be eligible for a baccalaureate degree on or prior to the start of the clinical program.
• All students applying to the school with an already conferred Baccalaureate degree in a science related field, must have at least 16 hours of biology, including Microbiology and Immunology (as either a separate course or as part of Microbiology) and 16 hours of Chemistry. College Algebra or higher math course is also required.

Admission procedures

1. Applications are accepted throughout the year. Application deadlines for each class are as follows: September 30 (February class), and February 27 (August class).
2. Applications can be downloaded here, or by emailing Elizabeth Duck, Medical Laboratory Science Program Director, or by calling her at (318) 769-3177.
3. Completed applications can be delivered to the Laboratory at Rapides Regional Medical Center (1st Floor) or can be mailed to the following:

Rapides Regional Medical Center
ATTN: School of Medical Laboratory Science 211 Fourth Street
Alexandria, LA 71301

4. Candidate interviews are determined after all complete applications are reviewed and scored. All applicants will be notified by phone or e-mail of their application status after applications are reviewed. Applicants not selected for the class can request that their application be held for consideration in the next class.

Program goals and entry level competencies

The MLS student that completes this course is expected to qualify to work in all phases of the clinical laboratory, exercise a high level of judgement, and be able to supervise other supportive staff. Graduates of our program should be able to meet the following entry-level competencies:

1. Meet the necessary requirements to take the ASCP National Certification Examination for Medical Laboratory Scientists.
2. Develop and establish procedures for collecting, processing, and analyzing biological specimens and other substances.
3. Perform analytical tests of body fluids, cells, and other substances.
4. Integrate and relate data generated by the various clinical laboratory departments while making decisions regarding possible discrepancies.
5. Confirm abnormal results, verify quality control procedures, execute quality control procedures, and develop solutions to problems concerning the generation of lab data.
6. Make decisions concerning the results of quality control and quality assurance measures, and institute proper procedures to maintain accuracy and precision.
7. Establish and perform preventative and corrective maintenance of equipment and instruments as well as identify appropriate sources for repairs.
8. 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 proper care and use of phlebotomy equipment.
9. Demonstrate professional conduct and interpersonal skills with patients, laboratory personnel, other health care professionals, and the public.
10. Establish and maintain continuing education as a function of growth and maintenance of professional competence.
11. Provide leadership in educating other health care personnel and the community.
12. Exercise principles of management, safety, and supervision.
13. Apply principles of educational methodologies and current information systems.

Program outcomes

The measure of our program’s curriculum effectiveness is evaluated by collecting information from its students, graduates and the employers of our graduates. The following outcomes measures are used in the assessing the curriculum effectiveness of our program:

View MLS Program Outcomes