Academics

The Parkview Medical Laboratory Science Program includes a total of 34 credit hours.

MLS 400 – Introduction to the Medical Laboratory – 0.5 Credit
This two (2) week Introduction to the Medical Laboratory includes lectures on the following: Policies, Safety, Infection Control, Compliance, Client Sensitivity, Lab Math, Quality Control, Basic Specimen Types, and Laboratory Equipment.

MLS 405 – Phlebotomy & Specimen Processing – 1 Credit
Phlebotomy & Specimen Processing includes two (2) weeks of student laboratory lectures and laboratory exercises specifically dedicated to preanalytical variables, including order of draw, tube additives, procedures, specimen types, associated tests, and sample processing practices.

MLS 410 – Research, Education, & Management – 0.5 Credit
Research, Education, & Management includes an intensive one (1) week of student laboratory lectures and exercises on statistics, method evaluation, research techniques, writing objectives and examinations, clinical instruction, lecture presentation, and management functions (e.g., scheduling, budgeting, regulations/compliance).

MLS 420 – Urinalysis & Body Fluids – 1 Credit
The Urinalysis & Body Fluids lecture course shares two (2) weeks of content with the Urinalysis & Body Fluids Lab course. Lecture topics include, but are not limited to specimens, normal and abnormal physical, chemical, and microscopic urinalysis, plus analysis of other body fluids and feces.

MLS 425 – Urinalysis & Body Fluids Lab – 1 Credit
The Urinalysis & Body Fluids Lab course shares two (2) weeks of content with the Urinalysis & Body Fluids lecture course. Laboratory exercises include, but are not limited to, specimens and collection, calculations, urine physical exams, urine chemical exams, urine microscopic exams, body fluid cell counts, crystal identification, and testing for pregnancy and occult blood in stool.

MLS 430 – Chemistry – 3 Credits
The Chemistry lecture course shares four (4) weeks of content with the Chemistry Lab course. Lecture content covers relevant topics in clinical chemistry, special chemistry, molecular techniques, specimens, instrumentation, quality control, and associated normal and abnormal conditions.

MLS 435 – Chemistry Lab – 1 Credit
The Chemistry Lab course shares four (4) weeks of content with the Chemistry lecture course. Laboratory exercises include, but are not limited to, specimen acceptability, quality control, test profiles, dilutions, calculations, testing by body system, automation, and troubleshooting.

MLS 440 – Immunology – 1 Credit
The Immunology lecture course shares two (2) weeks of content with the Immunology Lab course. Lecture topics include, but are not limited to, the immune system, specimens, test methodology, transplantation, hypersensitivity, autoimmunity, and bacterial and viral serology, with associated normal and abnormal clinical conditions.

MLS 445 – Immunology Lab – 1 Credit
The Immunology Lab course shares two (2) weeks of content with the Immunology lecture course. Laboratory exercises include, but are not limited to, enzyme immunoassays, electrophoresis, and testing for anti-nuclear antibodies (ANAs), rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-streptolysin O (ASO), and rapid plasma reagin (RPR).

MLS 450 – Hematology – 3 Credits
The Hematology lecture course shares five (5) weeks of content with the Hematology Lab course. Lecture topics include, but are not limited to, hematopoiesis, staining and counting cells in blood and other body fluids, specimens, test methodology, ancillary testing, and associated normal and abnormal clinical conditions.

MLS 455 – Hematology Lab – 2 Credits
The Hematology Lab course shares five (5) weeks of content with the Hematology lecture course. Laboratory exercises include, but are not limited to, erythrocyte sedimentation, staining, reticulocyte counting, normal and abnormal WBC differentials, morphology, and body fluid differentials.

MLS 460 – Coagulation & Hemostasis – 1 Credit
Coagulation & Hemostasis includes two (2) weeks of student laboratory lectures and laboratory exercises on hemostasis, coagulation, fibrinolysis, specimens, instrumentation, and associated normal and abnormal clinical conditions.

MLS 470 – Immunohematology & Transfusion Medicine (Blood Bank) – 3 Credits
The Immunohematology & Transfusion Medicine (Blood Bank) lecture course shares five (5) weeks of content with the Immunohematology & Transfusion Medicine (Blood Bank) Lab course. Lecture topics include, but are not limited to, blood typing, antibody screening and identification, specimens, test methodology, blood components, transfusion practices, and associated normal and abnormal clinical conditions.

MLS 475 – Immunohematology & Transfusion Medicine (Blood Bank) Lab – 2.5 Credits
The Immunohematology & Transfusion Medicine (Blood Bank) Lab course shares five (5) weeks of content with the Immunohematology & Transfusion Medicine (Blood Bank) lecture course. Laboratory exercises include, but are not limited to, ABO-RH, antibody screening and identification, antiglobulin testing, cross-matching, elution, EGA treatment, reticulocyte separation, component selection, and various procedures related to mother and baby testing.

MLS 480 – Microbiology & Parasitology – 3.5 Credits
The Microbiology & Parasitology lecture course shares eight (8) weeks of content with the Microbiology & Parasitology Lab course. Lecture topics include, but are not limited to, infection control, specimens, test methodology, media, bacteriology, rapid testing, susceptibility testing, mycobacteriology, mycology, virology, parasitology, and associated body systems’ normal flora & infections.

MLS 485 – Microbiology & Parasitology Lab – 3 Credits
The Microbiology & Parasitology Lab course shares eight (8) weeks of content with the Microbiology & Parasitology lecture course. Laboratory exercises include, but are not limited to, aseptic technique, plating, specimen acceptability, bacteriology, staining, susceptibility testing, rapid testing, unknowns, and parasitology.

MLS 490 – Clinical Laboratory Practicum – 6 Credits
The Clinical Laboratory Practicum is the capstone course which completes the program year. The Clinical Laboratory Practicum includes twelve (12) weeks of practicum time in Parkview Health network hospital (clinical) laboratories, with rotations in each of the departments, enrichment opportunities with members of management and associated laboratory fields (e.g., pathology), as well as clinical correlation case studies. 

The program is 12 months (52 weeks) in length, with two (2) cohorts of ten (10) students (maximum) divided into two (2) start dates (summer and winter), for a total of twenty (20) students (maximum). Classes for summer cohorts begin each year in late July or early August. Classes for winter cohorts begin each year in late January or early February.

There are five (5) weeks of breaks scheduled within a given year, listed in the table below.

The following holidays are observed, on which the school will be closed and no Program Director nor Educators available:

• New Year’s Day (Associated with Winter Break)
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day (Associated with Summer Break)
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day (Associated with Fall Break)
• Christmas Day (Associated with Winter Break)
• New Year’s Eve Day (Associated with Winter Break)

Each cohort will have a detailed schedule provided to them at or prior to the start of their program year.

More information on prerequisites is available in the MLS Student Handbook.

Students are not paid during student laboratory or clinical laboratory practicum experiences in the program year. However, outside of student laboratory and clinical laboratory practicum hours, under certain circumstances and with specific provisions and restrictions, students may perform service work (working for payment performing actual patient testing).

Service work is strictly voluntary. Service work will neither lessen any time required nor shorten the program year for the student laboratory or clinical laboratory practicum portions.

No service work is allowed during program hours. Students are not to be used for staff replacement (i.e., substituted for regular staff) during program hours. Attempting to perform or performing service work during program hours may result in dismissal of the student from the Program.

Service work must not exceed 20 hours per week unless approved by the Program Director. If a student’s grades suffer a decline, or the student fails a course, the Program Director and the student will meet to discuss the student’s current service work arrangement and develop an action plan to reduce the amount of time in service work and improve grades.

Students who want to work during the program year will need to show that they are in conformance with the requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986, properly identify themselves, and have proof of authorization to work in the United States. Students choosing to work for pay will function as hospital employees and be subject to all hospital regulations.

More information on prerequisites is available in the MLS Student Handbook.

While passing a national certification exam is a goal of the program for the students, graduation from the program is not contingent on passing a national certification exam. Students graduate from the program based on their performance throughout the program year and passing the program's cumulative final exam, culminating in earning a graduation certificate. Once students have graduated from the program, students are eligible to pursue national certification offered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC) or other nationally recognized certification agency.

• Lab Education Specialist and Safety Officer (Program Director)
  • Allegra McMillen MEd, MLS(ASCP)^CM
    • Email – Allegra.McMillen@parkview.com
• Clinical Lab School Educators (Faculty)
  • Catherine Egley MLS(ASCP)^CM
  • Casey Griffith MS, MLS(ASCP)^CM
• Clinical Instructors of Record
  • Hematology, Coagulation, Urinalysis
    • Melissa Rhodes MBA, MLS(ASCP)^CM
  • Chemistry, Special Chemistry, Immunology
    • Lynn Subler MLS(ASCP)^CM
  • Microbiology, Parasitology
    • Vickie Niblick MLS(ASCP)
  • Blood Bank
    • Laura Gregg MLS(ASCP)
    • Audrey Clauser MLS(ASCP)

Academic standards

The Parkview Medical Laboratory Science Program believes that high standards of performance are a basis for quality education. All students are provided with written copies of the MLS Student Handbook containing school policies at the beginning of their program year.

It includes the following:

• Students are considered to be "on probation" during the first three months of the program year.
• Students are expected to uphold the school's honor system.
• Students must not obtain a failing grade in more than one course. Failing two courses will result in dismissal from the program.
• If the student has a failing grade, the student must still show mastery of the course objectives.
• Daily attendance, Monday through Friday, during the normal hours of operation for the program, is required.
  • In the student laboratory, hours of operation are 8 am (8:00 EST/EDT) to 4:30 pm (16:30 EST/EDT).
  • During clinical rotations, shift start times may vary from 6-8 am (06:00-08:00 EST/EDT), with corresponding shift end times from 2:30-4:30 pm (14:30-16:30 EST/EDT).
  • Occasionally, the student may have learning experiences on a different shift.
• Students must remain at the hospital until officially dismissed by the educator or instructor and the Program Director.
• Breaks during class are at the discretion of the educator or instructor.
• Excessive tardiness or absenteeism may lead to probationary status or dismissal from the program.

Dismissal

A student may be dismissed from the program for:

• Failure to maintain academic standards
• Failure to observe the program's policies
• Documented evidence of cheating or plagiarism
• Excessive absenteeism
• Insubordination

Appeal mechanisms

If the student grievance is over an academic issue that is directly involved with the program, the grievance must be discussed with the individual educator or instructor. If the grievance is not resolved, it may be taken to the Program Director for further action. Should a grievance remain, other administrators or evaluators may be contacted.

Please note that if the issue concerns events which occurred while the student was working as an employee of Parkview/Parkview Health Laboratories, then the issue is a matter for Human Resources and the policies and procedures for Parkview Health coworkers would apply instead of academic appeal mechanisms.

More information on prerequisites is available in the MLS Student Handbook.