Phlebotomy Technology

1. To provide students both academic instruction and professional training in the field of phlebotomy to meet employment needs of Weatherford and surrounding communities.

2. Provide a climate conducive to stimulating interest in PBT education and participating in professional organizations, and encouraging awareness in changing trends in medical laboratory science.

3. Produce graduates who meet entry level competency in the profession.

4. To produce skilled clinical phlebotomists who:

a) identify components of the health care delivery system and the services each provides;

b) Identify each department within the laboratory, list tests, and corresponding pathologic conditions associated with eachdepartment;

c) Apply knowledge of infection control and safety in the workplace

d) Demonstrate basic understanding of the anatomy and physiology of body systems and anatomic terminology;

e) Utilize computers, information systems and other technology as related to job duties and responsibilities;

f) Demonstrate basic understanding of age specific or psycho‐social considerations involved in the performance of phlebotomyprocedures on various age groups of patients;

g) Demonstrate understanding of the importance of specimen collection and specimen integrity in the delivery of patient care;

h) Identify and report potential pre-analytical errors that may occur during specimen collection, labeling, transporting and processing.

i) Demonstrate knowledge of phlebotomy collection equipment, various types of additives used, special precautionsnecessary and substances that can interfere in clinical analysis of blood constituents;

j) Perform standard operating procedures to collect specimens via venipuncture and capillary (dermal) puncture;

k) Explain the collection of non-blood specimens, such as urine, stool, sputum, throat or other in order to instruct patients,process and handle non-blood specimens.

l) Perform specimen requisitioning and processing;

m) transport specimens following safety regulations, predetermined criteria, and standard protocol;

n) Explain quality assurance and quality control in phlebotomy;

o) Communicate professionally (verbally and nonverbally) in the workplace;

p) Perform waived and POCT procedures as established using standard protocol and predetermined criteria for testing and quality assurance.

5. To carry out the education of each student in a manner that encourages further education, participation in community service, and participation in professional organizations.

6. To maintain accreditation of the program through the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).

7. To produce graduates eligible to take and pass a nationally recognized certification examination upon completion of the program, and encourage all students to take the examination.

To maintain high academic and professional standards for the program and students.

Students progress through coursework as follows:

• 8 weeks of on-campus lecture, laboratory, and clinical simulations where HPRS 2321, HPRS 1209, PLAB 1323, and PLAB 1491 are completed. PLAB 1460 coursework begins in the first half of the program.
• 8 weeks off-campus clinical rotations, PLAB 1460, are performed at a hospital laboratory or a laboratory collection center. PLAB 1460 is completed in the second half of the program.

 
Upon successful course completion, students are awarded a lifetime Phlebotomy Certificate. In the last half of clinical, students are eligible to sit for the American Society of Clinical Pathology Registry, or another national phlebotomy licensure examination such as the AMT, NHA, or NCCT. The Phlebotomy certificate awarded by Weatherford College is not contingent on passing the ASCP or any other national examination. Higher examination scores are generally obtained when the national examination is taken within one year of graduation.
 
Phlebotomy Technology articulates into the Tarleton State University Division of Clinical Laboratory Sciences Medical Laboratory Technician Program (MLAB 2182) for graduates interested in furthering their career in the Medical Laboratory Sciences.

www.tarleton.edu/medicallab/programs/medical-laboratory-technology-program.html

Baylor All Saints Medical Center, Lake Granbury Medical Center, Clinical Pathology Laboratories, Comanche County Medical Center, Eastland Memorial Hospital, Laboratory Corporation of America, Medical City Weatherford, Palo Pinto General Hospital, Stephenville Medical and Surgical Clinic, Texas Health Huguley Hospital, Texas Health Resources Hospitals, Texas Healthy Aging and Hormone Therapy, Wise Medical and Surgical Clinic, and Wise Health Systems.