ALT-1 What is a Medical Technologist
Most people are baffled when I tell them that I am a certified Medical Technologist. They have no idea what that means or what part of the medical field I work in. They are unaware of how what I do affects how they are cared for in a clinical setting. Even upon informing a person that I work in the hospital laboratory, there is still a great deal of confusion as to the exact role I play in the overall provision of health care.
There was an attempt to clarify the nature of the profession a few years ago by exchanging the title of "Medical Technologist" with "Clinical Laboratory Scientist". These two titles are still used interchangeably in the field, as both terms are still being actively used. While Clinical Laboratory Scientist, or CLS, comes closer to defining where the Medical Technologist, or MT, is most often employed, perhaps the best description would have been achieved by combining the two terms to arrive at "Clinical Laboratory Technologist".
A career as a CLS or MT begins with a four-year degree at a nationally accredited college. Education includes rotation through all areas of the medical laboratory. A national registry exam is required for certification. Some states also require registration/certification, in addition to the national registry exam.
Alternate pathways to working as an MT combine experience, minimal college, and the registry exam. However, this pathway often includes working as a medical technician for a number of years before being able to take the registry, and the difference in pay is often $10/hr less than a fully qualified MT..
The CLS/MT is most often found in a clinical or hospital laboratory setting, working to provide quality laboratory results to physicians and others. Primary care providers use these results to assist in the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of patient health.
The CLS/MT is trained in all aspects of specimen acquisition, handling, and processing. Although many larger labs have phlebotomists (people who draw blood) and processing staff to handle many of these tasks, it is common to find that these areas are supervised by the CLS/MT. Most importantly, the CLS/MT is trained to ascertain answers from patient specimens, using the latest instrumentation and technology available. The advances in science and biotechnology assay are perhaps the most exciting aspects of working in this field.
Other benefits of working as a CLS/MT include a rate of pay comparable to a career in nursing without constant exposure to the patient (and their communicable diseases). In addition, most hospitals provide a wide array of benefits and provide a steady economic environment in which to develop a stable career portfolio. If you are looking for a career in the health field, but have no desire to work directly with patients, you might consider a career as a CLS/MT.
