Medical Laboratory Science Program

Program Philosophy
Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) program provides an educational program along with the Medical Laboratory Science professional’s standards outlined by the American Accrediting Agency for Medical Laboratory Science professionals. Our purpose is to provide a professional learning environment for students enrolled in Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) program in a College and hospital setting; to provide them with the opportunity for personal as well as professional growth; and to set examples that foster respect for others, themselves, and the medical community.

	Program Overview		Documents Required at Application Time
	Study System		Graduation Requirements
	Vision, Mission and Core Values		Expected Overall Educational Outcomes
	Objectives of MLS Program		Graduates Employment Opportunities
	Admission Criteria		MLS Curriculum Framework (pdf)
	Admission Procedure

Program Overview
Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) formerly known as Medical Technologist (MT) or Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS), functions as a medical detective, performing laboratory tests that provide physicians with information that assists them in preventing, diagnosing and treating diseases and maintaining patient wellness.
The practice of modern medicine would be impossible without the tests performed in the clinical laboratory. A medical team of pathologists, specialists and medical laboratory professionals work together to determine the presence, extent, or absence of disease and provide data needed to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. Laboratory procedures require an array of complex precision instruments and a variety of automated and electronic equipment. However, females and males interested in helping others are the foundation of a successful laboratory. They must be accurate, reliable, have an interest in science and be able to recognize their responsibility for human lives.
Medical Laboratory Science professionals will trace diseases in samples of tissues and body fluids, explore the mysterious patterns of microorganisms and observe the strength of various antibiotics in destroying them, type and cross match blood for transfusions, identify cellular components and hematologic factors of blood, measure changes in color and substance that occur in chemical testing and perform many other analysis that reveal the causes and nature of disease.
Today, there are more laboratories are being operated; more new drugs are being used; more chemical and physical tests are being developed, as the medical profession relies increasingly more on the laboratory for assistance. The future long-term employment looks bright. The need for Medical Laboratory Science professional is great everywhere throughout the Kingdom.

Study System
The medical laboratory science program of Dr. Soliman Fakeeh College of Nursing & Medical Sciences follows the semester’s system. The B.Sc. degree in Medical Laboratory Science to be awarded needs about five academic years equals to ten semesters of full time study. The official language of the program is English language.

Vision, Mission and Core Values

Vision
As expected to be one of the leading programs in the Kingdom, Medical Laboratory Science program (MLS) is committed to improving the quality of life for those we serve; also is committed to preparing well-educated, competent clinical laboratory professionals who contribute to the provision of quality healthcare.

Mission
Medical Laboratory Science program (MLS) provides a learning environment that result in medical laboratory professionals with the theoretical knowledge and the technical skills necessary to provide quality laboratory services. Embodied in this expertise is the ability to adapt to the changes required by medical advances, newly developed technologies, and the changing needs of society.

Core Values

Professional and ethical behavior.
Respect and appreciation of differences.
Life-long learning.
Excellence in teaching, scholarship, practice.
Appreciation of personal well-being.
Collegiality and collaboration.
Social responsibility.

Objectives of MLS Program

Provide educational opportunities for high school graduates to be medical laboratory science professionals.
To develop, monitor, evaluate, review and maintain an undergraduate curriculum that provides:
- An essential core of knowledge and skills.
- Opportunities to develop clinical competence through laboratory practice in the college and hands-on experience in Ministry of Health hospitals and clinics.
- Grounding in Laboratory Management and Quality Assurance.
- A thorough grounding in professional ethics in Medical Laboratory Sciences.
To use alternative learning models, including:
- Computer assisted learning.
- Problem-based learning.
- Research projects.
- Student presentations.
To provide students with the necessary support, guidance in terms of counseling and feedback on academic and clinical performance.
To foster an educational environment that encourages learning and academic excellence, promotes the advancement of knowledge through research, and encourages it to be shared across the scientific and educational community.
To formulate program curricula in an innovative way that keeps pace with and operates in the vanguard of, international best practice.
To use the most modern pedagogic techniques to prepare professionals whose knowledge and skills base extends beyond their academic training to encompass all aspects of patient care.
Qualify medical laboratory science professionals to cover increasing demand for this profession.
Qualify highly skillful graduates in the field of diagnosis and research.
To further improve educational practice and to foster creative thinking and teamwork, so better enabling graduates to play leading roles in their communities and society as a whole.
Help in publications by establishing and participation in specialized scientific journals.
Encourage and prepare the graduates of the program to take external certifying examinations if wish to do so. This would give such individuals an enhanced sense of belonging to an international community of professionals.
Establishing postgraduate programs for the medical laboratory science graduates.
To collaborate with Ministry of Health and with other Colleges in the Kingdom engaged in medical laboratory education for advancing the quality of training provided in the Kingdom. Such collaboration will be especially important for program accreditation and registration.
To serve the community through broad and detailed research.
To promote continuous improvement within the program by adhering to international standards of practice and by implementing systems of quality control and improvement.

Admission Criteria

An average mark of 80% in the scientific stream of the General Secondary Education Certificate (Grade 12) or equivalent from Saudi Arabia or abroad recognized qualification.
A minimum of 65% grade in the National Assessment Exam.
To pass the English proficiency test held in the college.
The Secondary School Certificate should not be more than 3 years ago.
Demonstrate satisfactory performance at interview.
Undertake a satisfactory medical examination as the regulation of DSFH.
Students should have the certificate of good conduct issued by the previous academic institute.
A full time student is required, therefore, if applicant works in governmental or private sector, the college requires a non objection certificate from his/her work.
The applicant should not have been expelled from any educational institution in the Kingdom or somewhere else either for academic or disciplinary reasons.

Admission Procedure

Admissions are announced through the media and the college website (www.fakeehcollege.edu.sa) with details of the admission schedule.
Dates for applying and performing the admission tests are announced in the local newspaper and the college web site (www.fakeehcollege.edu.sa).
The students fill out the application form and complete the rest of the procedures in accordance with the time period provided for registration (Application can be filled out through the web site of college).
The student will be given information about the time and place for the English proficiency test and personal interview.
Priority will be given to applicants depending on application requirements, marks in high school (scientific stream), the English proficiency test, the personal interview, and the availability of seats in the program.

Documents Required at Application Time

Online application through the web site of college (www.fakeehcollege.edu.sa).
A copy of all General Secondary Education Certificates Scientific Stream (Grade 12) or equivalent from Saudi Arabia or abroad recognized qualification.
Copy of personal Saudi ID, passport or Iqama.
2 passport-size personal photos.
5. Medical fitness certificate.
Registration fees (non refundable).
A copy of proper conduct certificate.
After announcing the names of the accepted applicants, the original copy of all Certificates must be handed in to the college.

Graduation Requirements

The degree awarded is Bachelor Degree (B.Sc.) of Medical Laboratory Sciences.
The college follows the semester’s system.
B.Sc. degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences to be awarded needs five academic years equals to ten semesters of full-time study including the internship year.
Coursework Requirements are as follow:

Course	Credit Hours
BSSC: Basic Scientific Courses for Medical Laboratory Sciences	26
BSCM: Basic Scientific Courses for Medical Laboratory Sciences	16
BHRC: Basic Health Related Courses	19
MLSC: Medical Laboratory Sciences Courses	103
Grand total	164

In order to qualify a student for B.Sc. in Medical Laboratory Sciences degree, student must successfully complete (164) credit hours for high school graduates.
The graduate in Medical Laboratory Sciences, a student must earn a grade of “D” (at least 60%) or better in all required courses.
38 credit hours of internship {equivalent to one academic year}, during that year the student works full time in a hospital recognized by the College Council. The student is trained according to a program set by the department and will be under supervision of specialists and consultants at the hospital together with staff members from the college.
The obligatory training year of internship training program aims at:
1. Obtaining further experience in relation to standard investigation and procedural activity.
2. Acquiring further skills in interpersonal relationships with both patients and other staff.
3. Support practical skills of graduates and prepare them for successful practice of their profession.
4. Consolidating a sense of professional ethics and responsibility.
5. Improve knowledge needed in their profession.
6. Allowing each intern to spend a reasonable amount of time working at each imaging modality.
7. Encourage graduates for continuous education in their profession and improve their abilities in scientific research.

Expected Overall Educational Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Medical laboratory Science Program (courses and internship medical laboratory Sciences training), the graduate will be able to:

Perform technically demanding specialized diagnostic laboratory procedures.
Establish clinical reference ranges for selected laboratory procedures.
Administer and participate in laboratory procedure quality assurance programs.
Test for clinical sensitivity and specificity of a designated laboratory procedure.
Correlate patient results from different laboratory disciplines for assuring proper quality control of test results.
Communicate with consultants and medical staff regarding technical interpretation of laboratory procedures.
Prepare a cost analysis for procedures designated by the clinical instructor.
Prepare a protocol for inventory control.
Prepare and present regularly scheduled seminars to medical students, staff and community.
Communicate effectively and accurately with patients, physicians, and other personnel.
Establish a comprehensive departmental safety policy.
Review and critique the departmental procedure manual for items to include patient preparation, specimen requirements, reagent preparation, test procedure, calculations and quality assurance.
Prepare a report detailing proper specimen collection and processing requirements for the department.
Evaluate the current general laboratory and departmental laboratory administrative structure.
Evaluate the appropriateness of the current departmental test schedule (time and days tests are performed).
Suggest areas within the department (if any) where computerization may be appropriate.
Maintain the standards of hygiene and safety measures throughout their work area.

Graduates Employment Opportunities

Health care is one of the fastest growing industries in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Hospitals, clinics, public health facilities and commercial laboratories all have positions open for qualified laboratory professionals. In the years to come, the major areas of scientific exploration will include the immune system, cell marker technology, bioengineering, DNA technology, and cancer research. As medical knowledge continues to expand, for those who choose a career as a laboratory professional, the challenge never ends.

Medical laboratory scientists can work “at the bench,” directly performing clinical analysis, others combine skills and interests to create a career suitable to their particular goals. These laboratories include:
1. Clinic or Hospital Laboratories.
2. Clinical chemistry laboratory.
3. Hematology laboratory.
4. Immunology laboratory.
5. Transfusion medicine & immunohematology laboratory.
6. Microbiology laboratory.
7. Fertility clinic laboratories.
8. Forensic laboratory.
9. Research center laboratories.
10. Molecular biology technique.
11. Biotechnology.
12. Public Health.
13. Parasitology.
14. Reference Lab.
15. Physician Office Lab.
16. Sales/Marketing.
17. Pharmaceuticals.
18. Industrial Labs.
A combination of administrative and managerial talent with a solid backgrounds and experience in medical technology can qualify an individual to be a laboratory administrator.
Medical laboratory professional with a desire to teach can become a faculty member in a college of Medical laboratory Science.
Those who wish to combine sciences with business might be representatives for commercial suppliers.