080102

01.   Policy Statement: It is the policy of the CLS Program (CLS) to promote an environment of respect and support for persons with disabilities and will make reasonable accommodations. 

02.   Definitions:  Student with a Disability – any student whose disability, as verified through the Office of Disability Services (ODS), prevents access to a classroom or classroom instruction. This includes students with hearing or mobility impairments and students with functional limitations resulting from a chronic health condition.

03.  Practice:  Individuals applying for admission, progression to clinical courses and graduation from the program in Clinical Laboratory Science must be able to meet the physical and emotional requirements of the academic program.

03.01    Students admitted to the Clinical Laboratory Science Program just possess the following qualities: 

a.  The ability to provide effective written, oral, nonverbal communication with patients, colleagues, health care providers, administrators, and the public,

b.  The ability to successfully and professionally complete all requirements needed to receive MLS (ASCP) certification as defined by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP BOC),

c.  The ability to perform standard medical laboratory procedures, including handling all types of bodily specimens and the collection of blood via phlebotomy, in a professional manner.

3.02    An individual who poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others or themselves may be denied admission, progression, or graduation.  The CLS Program’s determination that a person poses a direct threat will be based on an individualized assessment that relies on current medical evidence or on the best available evidence to assess the nature, duration, and severity of the risk and the probability that the potential injury will actually occur.

3.03    In order to fulfill the requirements of the CLS Program, students must be able to meet the physical demands associated with the profession. Examples of these requirements include but are not limited to the following:

a.   Standing, walking, and sitting:

1.   Moderately taxing continuous physical work, often requiring prolonged sitting or standing, over several hours.

b.   Seeing and smelling:

1.   Characterize the color, odor, clarity, and viscosity of biological, reagents, or chemical reaction products.

2.   Employ a clinical grade binocular microscope to discriminate among the structural and color (hue, shading, and intensity) differences of microscopic specimens.

c.   Arm and hand mobility:

1.   Control of laboratory equipment (i.e. pipettes, inoculating loops, test tubes) and adjustment to instruments and analyzers

2.   Reach laboratory bench tops and shelves, patients lying in hospital beds, or patients seated in specimen collection chairs.

3.   Use a keyboard to operate laboratory instruments and calculate, record, evaluate and transmit laboratory information.

d.   Communicating:

1.   Read and comprehend technical, scientific, and professional materials.

2.   Follow verbal and written instructions.

3.   Effectively, confidentially communicate with healthcare professionals, patients, etc. In writing or talking in-person, electronically, or via the telephone.

03.04  Because of the unique responsibilities involved in all healthcare professions, each department/program reserves the right to require that the student who appears to be unsuited for any program therein withdraw from the program and be guided into another curriculum of study at the college/university.