School of Medical Laboratory Science

Providing a backdrop for the clinical experience is a highly automated clinical laboratory, where a wide variety of routine and specialty test procedures are performed daily.

The medical center generates over 4.0 million billable tests each year. The laboratory employs a full-time equivalent of more than 300 technical and professional personnel to maintain this workload. Eleven pathologists, a clinical chemist, a microbiologist and a cytogeneticist are on staff.

The large number of patient specimens along with a wide variety of tertiary specialties such as neonatology, pediatrics, cardiology, trauma, neurology, cancer care, and others enable the medical laboratory science student at OSF Saint Francis to experience a wide variety of clinical specimens and procedures.

Accreditation

In 1932, the School for Laboratory Technicians was formally established at OSF Saint Francis when the first requirements for laboratory schools were detailed by the American Medical Association.

Today, the school maintains full accreditation by:

The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
5600 N. River Road, Ste. 720 
Rosemont, Illinois 60018-5119
(773) 714-8880
http://www.naacls.org/

Admission to the OSF Saint Francis School of Medical Laboratory Science is competitive with a limited number of student positions available annually. Attendance at an affiliated institution does not guarantee placement in the OSF Saint Francis program. Individuals who have already completed a U.S., or equivalent, baccalaureate degree, meeting program prerequisites, may also apply.

Individuals are encouraged to contact the program director with questions regarding admission eligibility based on attendance at an academic institution not directly affiliated with OSF Saint Francis.

Apply Online

Program Pass Rate and Job Placement Rate

Academic Schedule

Lectures are scheduled 2 to 3 hours per day; students are in clinical rotations through the laboratory departments each day as well. Each student follows an individualized clinical rotation schedule, allowing one-to-one interaction with their designated instructor.

Classes start in August with completion in late May. Students will be eligible for certification by the American Society for Clinical Pathology through examination by the Board of Certification upon successful program completion.

Lecture schedule includes lectures on phlebotomy, immunology, hematology, coagulation, chemistry, microbiology, immunohematology, molecular diagnostics, management and education methods.

Lectures:

• Monday: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Chemistry 2:30-3:30 p.m.
• Tuesday: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Microbiology 1:30-3:30 p.m.
• Wednesday: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Chemistry 2:30-3:30 p.m.
• Thursday: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Microbiology 1:30-3:30 p.m.
• Friday: Lecture course self-study, unless otherwise specified 

Clinical Rotations: Clinical rotations take place Monday-Friday. These rotations begin at 7 a.m. with some start time adjustments for specific rotations. Students are informed of adjusted start times when applicable. Students spend at least 16 weeks in each of the following departments: chemistry, microbiology, hematology, urinalysis, serology, immunohematology, coagulation and phlebotomy. Bench rotations are customized for students with potential clinical sites at any OSF System Laboratory and regional support at Graham Hospital.

Vacation and Holidays

Each student is allocated personal time during the year to be used for sick time, job interviews and absences for other personal reasons. Four additional weeks of vacation are scheduled: one week at Thanksgiving, two weeks over the Christmas and New Year holidays and one week each spring. Additional holidays include Labor Day and Memorial Day.

Health Insurance

Students are responsible for their own health care costs during the school year. It is required that all students obtain health insurance coverage for the duration of the program. Enrolled students have access to emergency medical care at all times during the clinical program.

Student Policies

At orientation, all enrolled students will receive a student handbook that explains the curriculum and evaluation mechanisms in detail, as well as all school and hospital policies and procedures the student must be familiar with.

Dress Code

Students may wear either an all-white uniform or colored scrub suits. White leather duty shoes or athletic shoes (without any canvas or fabric sections) must be worn in the laboratory. Hair must be worn short or pulled back in a secure manner from the face. Fluid-resistant lab coats and other personal protective wear will be provided for students' use during the clinical year.

Contact Us

For additional information, please contact: (309) 624-9021