Curriculum

Courses

• Phlebotomy Practices and Quality Essentials
• Ethical, Legal, and Regulatory Issues
• Basic Anatomy and Physiology
• Infection Control
• Laboratory Safety
• Specimen Handling and Processing
• Blood Collection Equipment
• Blood collection Procedures
• Complications Associated with Specimen Collection
• Special Collection Procedures
• Departments of the Laboratory

Students will also be required to successfully complete a clinical rotation of 100 hours within the Geisinger Medical Laboratories and perform a minimum of 100 successful unaided blood collections.

Faculty

The doctoral staff, technical specialists, supervisors, as well as the school’s coordinator/instructor all contribute to the learning process to ensure a quality education for students. In addition, each department of the laboratory presents a topic on its area of expertise. Students will receive classroom instruction (didactic and classroom laboratory) by specialists in their field of study.

Program objectives

Upon completion of this program, the student will:

• Demonstrate an understanding of basic anatomy and physiology of body systems and medical terminology.
• Describe phlebotomy duties and practices
• Demonstrate knowledge of legal and ethical issues
• Demonstrate knowledge of lab safety and infection control
• Describe the organizational structure of a laboratory
• Demonstrate knowledge of specimen processing and handling
• Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of blood collection devices and equipment used in phlebotomy
• Perform proper techniques for both venipunctures and capillary draws
• Identify pre-analytical errors and factors that can affect specimen quality or have an impact on laboratory results
• Perform special collection procedures
• Demonstrate appropriate levels of interpersonal and communication skills, computer skills, documentation and professionalism
• Achieve goals for continuing education and professional competencies
• Perform quality control methods for point-of-care testing
• Describe today’s health care delivery system

The student must be able to perform under the following learning objective domains:

Psychomotor Abilities

• Must be able to stand and/or walk for long periods of time.
• Must have the physical ability to manipulate small objects needed for specimen collection and sufficient fine motor skills.
• The ability to distinguish colors for blood collection practices. 
• The ability to use/navigate computers and small electronic devices used for blood collection procedures. 
• Perform blood collection procedures according to sound technical ability.

Cognitive Abilities

• Able to work effectively as a team member.
• Ability the interpret and apply oral and written procedures
• Maintain accurate records with regards to specimen collection.
• Good organizational skills.
• Be able to employ critical thinking skills in order to resolve problems.

Affective Abilities

• Use interpersonal skills for effective communication. 
• Must maintain a positive work attitude with regards to coworkers, patients, and other members if the healthcare team.
• Must be able to read and write English effectively in order to perform job functions. 
• Follow appropriate Geisinger Laboratory dress code. 
• Maintain patient confidentiality at all times.

Program assessments

• Written exams: 30%
• Practical exams: 40%
• Final exam: 20%
• Professional skills: 10%