Medical Technology (BS and Certificate)
The Medical Technology Program responds to the mission of preparing professionals to fill the needs of present day Puerto Rico.
It aspires to provide an excellent academic education to prepare medical or scientific clinical laboratory technologists with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary in a clinical laboratory science professional beginning in the profession. It also attempts to develop individuals capable of communicating and interacting with patients, their teammates and other health professionals. The application of ethical and moral principles is fomented in the compliance of the laws that govern the laboratory and the Medical Technology profession. Students will become enabled to perform in different scenarios and to practice as enterprising professionals, clinical instructors, consultants, supervisors, administrators, educators, and researchers, among others by means of an innovating curriculum that promotes clinical research.
This Program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency of Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) and it has an intensive one year curriculum divided in two terms: academic or theoretical and practical. Two groups of students are admitted annually, one in August and the other in February. Upon completion of the Program, students are eligible to take the professional certification examination offered by the Puerto Rico Board of Examiners for Medical Technologists and the American Society for Clinical Pathologists (ASCP). The Programs have affiliations established with different clinical laboratories where students may complete their clinical practice. These facilities are certified by agencies recognized by NAACLS, such as the Department of Health, the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA), and the Joint Commission of Hospital Accreditation (JCHA).
The Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology and the Professional Post Bachelor Certificate are offered.
Competencies Profile of Graduates
The program is designed to permit the development of the following competencies:
Knowledge
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles and methodologies of clinical laboratory services performed for all major areas in the laboratory.
- Interpret the principles and practices of administration, supervision, quality assessment, instrumentation, education methodologies, safety, regulations and laws corresponding to laboratory sciences.
Skills
- Evaluate the fundamental concepts of clinical chemistry, hematology and hemostasis, immunology, blood bank, microbiology, urinalysis and body fluids to correlate them with the analysis of laboratory tests and decision making.
- Provide solutions to problems related to the performance of laboratory tests.
- Evaluate processes for the accuracy of laboratory results through statistical methods.
- Design research projects and clinical studies with the purpose of disseminating the results.
Attitudes
- Apply ethical principles and commit to their professional development.
- Serve patients, the public, and members of the health team by applying effective communication skills.
Admission Requirements
- It is required to have the following courses or their equivalent approved.
- General Biology I, II
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Anatomy and Physiology
- General Physics I, II
- Precalculus
- General Chemistry I, II
- Analytical Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry I, II
- Biochemistry or Cellular and Molecular Biology
In addition, students who opt for the bachelor's degree in Medical Technology must have approved the requirements of general education or its equivalent as established in the academic requirements section of the bachelor's degree in Science in Medical Technology.
- Completion of an application form and submission of an official academic transcript from all universities attended.
- Three (3) letters of recommendation from faculty members. The scores obtained will be considered in the admission formula for the selection of the candidate.
- A minimum general academic grade point index of 2.5 and in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics courses. The grade point index obtained will be considered in the admission formula for candidate selection.
- The ability to achieve essential non-academic requirements related to the demands of the profession as published in the information brochure of the Medical Technology Program. Students should have these requirements to be able to complete the Program satisfactorily and to work in the functions of the Medical Technology profession.
- Take an academic test offered by the school, for the purpose of checking the knowledge and skills related to the academic requirements in part number 1 of the admission requirements. The scores obtained will be considered in the admission formula for the selection of the candidate.
- After being admitted to the Program, deliver the following documents:
- Certificate of Health.
- Evidence of vaccination or immunization against Hepatitis B and varicella.
- Evidence of a current medical plan.
- Negative Certification of Criminal Background validated.
- For the clinical practice the doping test is required.
- Student Card.
- Other documents requested by some practice centers.
It is the responsibility of the student to apply for admission to the School of Medical Technology. Once the application is completed and the admission requirements are met, the students will be selected by a committee composed of two professors and the director of the School of Medical Technology, in a competitive manner, according to the program's capacity.
To enroll in the major courses to complete the Bachelor degree or professional certificate (Post-Bachelor) in Medical Technology requires that the student has been accepted into the School.
External and Internal Transfers
Transfers from other universities or from this University to MEDT courses are not allowed, these must be made by application for a space or admission through the School.
Transfers from Other Universities (External)
Students with 3 years or more of university studies who come from other accredited universities and who apply for admission to the School to finish the bachelor's degree in Medical Technology at this University may submit the following approved courses, approved with a minimum of C, to the admissions committee for consideration to validate the requirements of the General Education Program of the Institution:
|
Credits |
| English |
9 |
| Spanish |
9 |
| Social Sciences |
6 |
| Humanities |
6 |
| Religion |
3 |
| Mathematics/Computers |
9 |
| Total |
42 |
These general education courses in addition to the core requirements and major of the Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology, will be considered for the granting of the Bachelor degree.
Internal Transfers
The transfer process will be carried out only if the student is admitted to the School in accordance with the admission requirements and the available space.
Retention Requirements
All students must comply with the satisfactory academic progress standards established in the General Catalog of the Inter-American University. In addition, you must meet the following requirements established by the School and published in the Student Handbook of the Medical Technology Program.
- Academic Progress
Each course in both the theory and practice curricula should be completed with a minimum average of 75 percent. Students will be kept informed of their academic progress during the courses. If students do not obtain the minimum of 75% in a course, they may be placed on probation. Students that fail in a minimum of six credits will be dismissed from the Program for academic deficiency. Students dismissed for academic deficiency will not be readmitted to the Program.
- Attendance
Attendance to the lectures, laboratories, and clinical practice is compulsory. Unjustified absences, as established for each course, are sufficient reason for the dismissal of a student.
- Conduct
Students must comply at all times with the established norms, policies and procedures of the Program, as established in the Student Handbook of the Medical Technology Program.
No student dismissed from the Program for violation of the Program norms may be readmitted to this Program.
Graduation Requirements
- Approve each theory and practice course with a minimum execution criterion of 75%.
- Minimum overall graduation average of 2.50.
Upon successful completion of the Program, the graduate is eligible to take the revalidation exams offered by the Board of Examiners of Medical Technologists of Puerto Rico and the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP).
After passing the revalidation exam, the student is considered a certified Medical Technologist.
The granting of the academic degree by the Institution does not depend on the graduate passing exams of revalidation.