This accredited program prepares the graduate to become a Medical Lab Assistant following program completion. The graduate is eligible to write the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science MLA National Certification Exam.
The program is completed over 22 weeks of classroom and laboratory study at RDC followed by a 7 week practicum of clinical laboratory training. Students are trained to collect, process, and prepare patient specimens, enter data, perform clerical and reception services, perform electrocardiograms and urinalysis, and carry out basic laboratory procedures. During practicum experience, students will address a selection of competencies in simulation labs.
Program outcomes are designed to enable successful transition to the role of the Medical Lab Assistant, assisting students to:
- Perform safe work practices according to established safety protocols, guidelines, and legislation.
- Verify relevant data and patient information to ensure that appropriate specimens are collected and handled correctly.
- Perform pre-analytical procedures and laboratory testing on a variety of specimens through the use of equipment according to established protocols.
- Apply a variety of communication strategies, teamwork skills, and inter-professional collaboration to effectively and respectfully build positive relationships with patients/clients and other healthcare professionals.
- Practice and promote the principles of quality management systems.
- Practice in a legal, ethical and professional manner, demonstrating conduct that meets expectations of laws and regulations governing the profession.
- Exhibit empathy, respect, and appreciation of diversity, while protecting the patient's right to a reasonable standard of care.
- Apply critical thinking skills to constructively investigate, evaluate, and problem solve to engage in self-reflective practice, self-care, and lifelong learning.
Note: There is one annual intake in Fall for the MLA program usually beginning in September.