Defining the Practice of Medical Technology/Clinical Laboratory Science Profession PDF

# Defining the Practice of the Medical Technology/Clinical Laboratory Science Profession ## Nature of Medical Technology - Medical technology profession continues to develop over the years. - Science of medical technology evolved due to development of modern equipment and new procedures - Focuses o...

# Defining the Practice of the Medical Technology/Clinical Laboratory Science Profession ## Nature of Medical Technology - Medical technology profession continues to develop over the years. - Science of medical technology evolved due to development of modern equipment and new procedures - Focuses on helping in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. ## Importance of Science and Technology - Science is concerned with the study of the natural world. - Interrelationships among the biological, psychological, and even the social world. - Disciplines in the sciences constantly evolve to adapt to the changing needs of human beings. - Principles of medical technology are highly dependent on developments in the scientific disciplines and areas such as chemistry, electronics, optics, and mechanics, - Aims to develop a utilizable biotechnology that will aid in the diagnosis of diseases. ## Defining Technology - Application of science in ways that are considered beneficial to society. - Defined in three ways: - Physical artefact, machine, or instrument - Activity or a means to accomplish a goal - Knowledge - Technology reduces the uncertainty in the cause-effect relationships involved in achieving a desired outcome. - Technology consists of physical elements such as equipment, materials, or products - Intangible elements, such as knowledge, skills, procedures, principles, or information base - Technology is an avenue for humans to alter or modify the environment in order to extend their abilities ## Medical Technology - Designed to improve the detection, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of diseases. - Contextual, interdisciplinary, interdependent, and systems-based. - Dependent on the application, purpose, environment, and setting. ## Clinical Laboratory Testing - Plays a crucial role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. - Clinical laboratory scientists perform most of these laboratory tests, they are involved - Examination and analysis of body fluids, tissues, and cells - Presence of bacteria, parasites, and other microorganisms in the body. - Analyzing the chemical contents of fluids - Matching blood for transfusions - Testing for drug levels in the blood - Prepare specimens - Count cells - Look for abnormal cells - Use microscopes, cell counters, and other sophisticated laboratory equipment. - Use automated equipment and computerized instruments. - Analyze the results and relay them to physicians. ## Principles of Medical Laboratory Science - With increasing automation and innovations in computer technology, the work of technologists and technicians has become less hands-on and more analytical. ## Medical Technology Practice Defined - Section 2 of the Republic Act, as amended by R.A. 6132, P.D. 498, and P.D. 1534, defines the practice of medical technology: ### Practice of Medical Technology - Person shall be deemed to be in the practice of medical technology who shall for a fee, salary or other compensation or reward paid or given directly or indirectly through another, renders any of the following professional services for the purpose of aiding the physician in the diagnosis, study and treatment of diseases and in the promotion of health in general: - Examination of tissues, secretions and excretions of the human body and body fluids by various electronic, chemical, microscopic, bacteriologic, hematologic, serologic, immunologic, nuclear, and other laboratory procedures and techniques either manual or automated - Blood banking procedures and techniques - Parasitologic, mycologic and microbiologic procedures and techniques - Histhpathologic and cytotechnology; provided that nothing in this paragraph shall inhibit a duly registered medical laboratory technician from performing histopathologic techniques and procedures - Clinical research involving patients or human beings requiring the use of and/or application of medical technology knowledge and procedures - Preparations and standardization of reagents, standards, stains and others; provided such reagents, standards, stains and others are exclusively for the use of their laboratory - Clinical Laboratory quality control - Collection and preservation of specimens - Provided, That any person who has passed the corresponding board examination for the practice of a profession already regulated by existing law, shall not be subject to the provisions of the last four preceding paragraphs if the performance of such acts or services is merely incidental to his profession (Section 2, a.). ## Roles and Responsibilities of Medical Technology Professionals - Medical Technology is a rapidly advancing discipline and profession. - The role of medical technology professionals in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases is very crucial in health care practice. - The role of the medical technologist is to collaborate with other health care practitioners to provide humane and dignified health service. - Tasks of medical technology professionals: - Perform Clinical Laboratory Testing - Perform Special Procedures - Ensure Accuracy and Precision of Results - Be Honest in Practice - Ensure Timely Delivery of Results - Demonstrate Professionalism - Uphold Confidentiality - Collaborate with Other Health Care Professionals - Conduct Research - Involvement in Health Promotion Programs ## Defining the Practice of Other Laboratory Personnel - List of other valuable laboratory personnel with various roles in the health care delivery system, specifically in the area of laboratory medicine. - Medical technologists work closely with these laboratory personnel in order to provide accurate and precise laboratory results. - All should work in harmony in order to provide the best patient care. ## Pathologist - Duly registered physician who is specially trained in methods of laboratory medicine, or the gross and microscopic study and interpretation of tissues, secretions and excretions of the human body and its functions in order to diagnose disease, follow its course, determine the effectivity of treatment, ascertain cause of death, and advance medicine by means of research. - Considered to head a clinical laboratory and monitor all laboratory results. ## Medical Laboratory Technicians - Person certified by and registered with the Board of Medical Technology and qualified to assist a medical technologist and/or qualified pathologist in the practice of medical technology - Must satisfy the following qualifications to become a medical technician: - Failed to pass the medical technology licensure examination given by the Board of Medical Technology but obtained a general rating of at least 70% and provided finally that a registered medical laboratory technician when employed in the government shall have the equivalent civil service eligibility not lower than the second grade - Passed the civil service examination for medical technicians given on March 21, 1969 - Finished a two-year college course and has at least one (1) year experience of working as a medical laboratory technician; provided that for every year of experience in college, two (2) years of work experience may be substituted; and provided further, that the applicant has at least ten (10) years of experience as medical laboratory technician as of the date of approval of this decree. ## Phlebotomist - Individual trained to draw blood either for laboratory tests or for blood donations. - Draw blood by simply puncturing the skin but when larger volumes of blood are needed, venipuncture or even arterial puncture is done. - Arterial collection can only be performed by a specially trained phlebotomist - Nowadays, phlebotomy is a skill confined not only to medical technologists but to other health care practitioners as well ## Cytotechnologist - Laboratory personnel who works with the pathologist to detect changes in body cells - Done by examining microscopic slides of body cells for abnormalities or anomalies in structures - Selects and sections minute particles of human tissue for microscopic study, using microtomes and other equipment and employs stain techniques to make cell structures visible or to differentiate its parts. ## Histotechnologist - Laboratory personnel responsible for the routine preparation, processing, and staining of biopsies and tissue specimens for microscopic examination by a pathologist. - No formal training for histotechnologists in the Philippines. ## Nuclear Medical Technologist - Health care professional who works alongside nuclear physicians. - Apply their knowledge of radiation physics and safety regulations to limit radiation exposure, - Prepare and administer radiopharmaceuticals, - Use radiation detection devices and other kinds of laboratory equipment that measure the quantity and distribution of radionuclides deposited in the patient or in the patient's specimen. ## Toxicologist - Studies the effects of toxic substances on the physiological functions of human beings, animals, and plants to develop data for use in consumer protection and industrial safety programs. - Designs and conducts studies to determine physiological effects of various substances on laboratory animals, plants, and human tissue, using biological and biochemical techniques. - Important role in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of disease - Designed to improve the detection, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of diseases. # Key Points - Medical laboratory science is one of the most important fields in the health care delivery system. - R.A. 5527 or the Medical Technology Act of 1969 defines the nature and scope of the Medical Technology profession in the Philippines.