Overview
This lecture covers the roles, responsibilities, and employment opportunities in the medical technology profession, including clinical tasks, professional organizations, and key governing laws.
Roles and Responsibilities of Medical Technologists
- Medical technologists are essential in detection, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of diseases.
- Key responsibilities include collection, preservation, and storage of patient specimens.
- They perform clinical laboratory testing and special laboratory procedures.
- Quality control is maintained to ensure laboratory results are accurate and precise.
- Blood collection is done by venipuncture (syringe or evacuated tube system) and capillary puncture (using finger or heel).
- They process various lab tests: hematology, microbiology, histopathology, blood banking, and more.
- Proper use of color-coded vacutainer or microtainer tubes with anticoagulants is required for specimen handling.
Employment Opportunities for Medical Technologists
- Medical technologists may work in clinical laboratories, education, research, forensic laboratories, drug testing, and hospital information systems.
- Special certifications are required to work in certain labs (e.g., drug testing, HIV/AIDS testing).
- They may also serve as analysts or quality management coordinators.
Clinical Laboratory Personnel
- Pathologists lead clinical laboratories, verify results, and are trained physicians.
- Medical laboratory technicians assist technologists and must be certified.
- Phlebotomists specialize in collecting blood samples.
- Cytotechnologists focus on analyzing cell samples for abnormalities.
- Histotechnologists process and stain tissue specimens from biopsies.
- Nuclear medical technologists handle radioactive drugs for imaging and diagnosis.
Professional Organizations
- The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) regulates and licenses professionals, created under PD 223 (1973).
- Accredited organizations: Philippine Association of Medical Technologists (PAMET) and Philippine Association of Schools of Medical Technology & Public Health (PASMET).
- PAMET was founded by Crisanto G. Almario in 1963; current president is Luella A. Vertucio.
- PASMET established in 1970 for academic institutions offering medical technology.
- Student organization: Philippine Society of Medical Technology Students (PHISMETS).
Key Laws Governing Medical Technology
- RA 5527: Philippine Medical Technology Act of 1969, defining practice and registration.
- RA 7719: National Blood Services Act of 1994, ensuring safe, voluntary blood donation and blood banking.
- RA 10912: Continuing Professional Development Act of 2016, requiring ongoing education for license renewal.
- CMO No. 13, Series of 2017: Policy standards for BS Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Medical Technologist — Licensed professional performing laboratory tests to aid diagnosis and treatment.
- Phlebotomist — Specialist in collecting blood samples from patients.
- Pathologist — Physician head of the clinical laboratory, responsible for validating lab results.
- Cytotechnologist — Technologist analyzing cell samples for disease detection.
- Histotechnologist — Specialist in processing and staining tissue samples for pathology.
- Quality Control — Procedures ensuring lab results are accurate and precise.
- PAMET — Philippine Association of Medical Technologists.
- PASMET — Philippine Association of Schools of Medical Technology and Public Health.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review uploaded assignment for Topic 2 and submit by the next meeting.
- Prepare for a quiz on the discussed material at the next meeting.
- Continue reading related laws and functions of professional organizations.