Advisement and expectations
Faculty
Program director
Medical director
Medical laboratory scientist educators
Student success
Professional programs that train learners with specific skills and prepare them for successful entry into the workforce have high standards and expectations that lead to remarkably high graduate success rates. Geisinger School of Medical Laboratory Science and the Geisinger Diagnostic Medicine Institute provide an excellent academic experience. We’re dedicated to helping you become the type of professional we want to work with and someone we can expect to become a leader in diagnostic medicine. We’re committed to success and patient safety. We treat every patient sample with care. We use frequent feedback to guide and equip you to perform testing safely and effectively. You'll be able to join a clinical laboratory professional team and sit for a medical laboratory scientist (MLS) certification exam upon completing our certificate program.
Graduate competencies
Graduates of Geisinger School of Medical Laboratory Science are expected to:
- Possess the entry level skills necessary to perform clinical laboratory testing in the following broad areas:
- Clinical chemistry
- Hematology
- Hemostasis
- Immunology
- Immunohematology
- Transfusion medicine
- Microbiology
- Urine and body fluid analysis
- Molecular diagnostics
- Possess the general basic knowledge and ability to develop skills in the areas of:
- Analysis and clinical decision making
- Regulatory compliance
- Education
- Quality assurance
- Quality improvement in clinical laboratory testing performance, research and development
- Possess the basic knowledge and skills in application of safety and governmental regulations and standards as applied to clinical laboratory science.
- Apply the principles and practices of professional conduct to work-life and continuing professional development.
- Communicate effectively with patients, the public and members of the healthcare team.
- Apply principles and practices of administration and supervision within clinical laboratory medicine roles.
- Train and educate users and providers of laboratory services using educational methodologies and terminology related to clinical laboratory science.
- Apply principles and practices of clinical laboratory research to study design, implementation, analysis and dissemination of results.
Student advisement
Aim: Once you're accepted into the program, our goal is to help you meet and exceed standards so you’re adequately prepared to enter the workforce.
Purpose: Feedback is intended to help you recognize strengths and weaknesses. Frequent, varied assessment toward goals and instructor-driven feedback will help you identify ways to leverage strengths and opportunities for improvement. Faculty-driven feedback can better help you identify useful and productive strategies for ideal implementation timelines.
Strategy: You'll be assessed in multiple ways throughout the program and receive feedback through multiple modalities. Be sure to ask questions and seek feedback during class and clinical time, through posted contact methods and during posted office hours for program faculty.
Formative feedback: Didactic coursework is assessed at minimum with a midterm and final exam. Other exams, quizzes, homework and classwork may also be assigned. All material not immediately graded will be graded and returned to you within 2 weeks, with the goal of returning within 1 week from the due date. Feedback on clinical coursework is given throughout the progress in the form of competency checklists. You’ll receive feedback on progress and goals at least weekly. You’re also assessed on affective domain skills through professional development evaluations at least once per semester. The program director will review and address professional standards with all students at minimum during the first quarter of the program, at midterm and at the end of clinical rotations. If you have a failing score on a midterm exam, clinical competency or professional development, you’ll be referred to the program director. You may be required to meet with the program director to agree on a remediation plan and assess progress toward successful program completion.
Expectations: You're required to meet standards of competence in your coursework as well as standards of professional practice. Didactic and clinical coursework standards and assessment methods are published in individual course syllabi. A passing grade in each course is 75%. The standards of professional practice are assessed by the professional development evaluation and the standards of professional conduct in the student handbook.
Graduation requirement: To earn a certificate of completion, you must finish all didactic course and clinical competency assessments and pass a comprehensive exam. If you don't pass any course in the program or if you fail the comprehensive exam, you’ll be dismissed from the program. Graduation from the program with a certificate of completion is not contingent upon the registration or passing of a national or international MLS or MT certification exam.
Elevation process and regular review of student progress: Lecturers, faculty and clinical preceptors will elevate any concerns with your progress in academic, clinical and professional skills at least bi-weekly to the clinical site liaisons and course faculty. Course faculty and clinical liaisons will report progress at least monthly to the program director. If you’re at risk of not meeting minimal program standards, you will be referred to for advising. We take care to guarantee your privacy and confidentiality as well as our impartiality. You can appeals decisions on student achievement or dismissal due to failure to reach minimum competency after remediation by contacting the chair of the Committee on Academic and Professional Standards.
Have questions regarding academic standards, progression through the program, program dismissal or student record confidentiality? Contact the program director at gsmls@geisinger.edu
Standards of professional conduct
A shared set of guidelines forms the basis of trust necessary for student instruction in a clinical environment where patient testing and safety must be preserved. The shared set of guidelines also sets the basis for kind, respectful and just culture relationships between you and your instructors, as well as patients and members of the Geisinger community, who you may encounter during educational experiences.
Standards:
- Accountability: You and your instructors are expected to be accountable for their own actions and honest in recounting their actions.
- Attendance: You and your instructors are expected to be on time and ready to learn for all scheduled instruction in conformance with the attendance policy.
- Communication and teamwork: You and your instructors are expected to maintain professional communication. Legitimate concerns should be addressed through appropriate channels maintaining confidentiality and preserving the just culture, respectful and kind work environment for Geisinger. Professional communication includes verbal, written and non-verbal communication.
- Education and development: You’re expected to truthfully present work that is your own, or clarify when work is done by others. You are expected to be open to learning from all people and recognize that everyone has talents and skills to offer, no matter their age, rank or position.
- Resources and equipment: All equipment and supplies to facilitate education are to be used only in the manner intended, and are not permitted to be removed or taken for personal use (unless specifically authorized) and should be maintained in a manner to protect Geisinger’s investment.
- Safety:
a. You and your instructors are expected to adhere to all personal, technology, infection control, biohazard and chemical safety policies.
b. You are not permitted to participate in clinical work while under a condition which affects mental acuity to perform work safely. These conditions can include illness, sleep deprivation, improper medication or a behavioral medical condition. - Uniform: You’re expected to abide by the uniform policy and maintain a professional appearance.
- Workplace environment: You and your instructors are expected to maintain a workplace and learning environment free from discrimination, examining your biases to create an inclusive and just environment. Avoid behaviors that compromise the safety, effectiveness, quality and outcomes of the workplace and learning environment. If you witness any such behaviors, report them through the appropriate channel. These behaviors include discrimination, harassment, bullying, retaliation, threats and workplace violence.
This list is brief and non-inclusive. You can request further detail for each of the standards, outcomes for violation of the standards and appeal of penalties for violation of the standards by emailing the program director at gsmls@geisinger.edu.
Clinical rotation assignments
Clinical placement is guaranteed for all students successfully admitted into the program.
Clinical instruction and some remote instruction may be assigned at:
• Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA (GMC)
• Geisinger Community Medical Center, Scranton, PA (GCMC)
• Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Wilkes-Barre, PA (GWV)
• Geisinger Medical Center Muncy, Muncy, PA (GMCM)
• Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital, Bloomsburg, PA (GBH)
• Geisinger Lewistown Hospital, Lewistown, PA (GLH)
• Geisinger Shamokin Area Community Hospital, Shamokin, PA (GSACH)
• Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes-Barre, PA (GSWB)
• Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital, Jersey Shore, PA (GJSH)
Student rotations will typically be from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with meal break on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Didactic instruction is typically 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays.
Schedules may be adjusted to accommodate needs, makeup or remediation time. Certain rotations may require a different start time to match staffing and workflow. Specific questions about locations and schedules? Email the program director at gsmls@geisinger.edu.
Student work opportunities
You may seek opportunities for clinical and/or research employment outside of scheduled clinical and didactic coursework hours. See job opportunities and requirements.
Hiring and scheduling requirements of employment positions within Geisinger are independent of the School of Medical Laboratory Science policies. The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) requires that service work performed by students must be noncompulsory. NAACLS defines service work as work for the clinical site performed outside of the normally scheduled educational periods. Participation by students in employment or research work outside of curricular hours is not required for students enrolled in the program. Students are not permitted to perform employment related work tasks during the educational day. Students are not permitted to be substituted for regular paid staff during clinical rotations regardless of employment status.