Mission & Goals

Mission

The mission of the Phlebotomy Technician Certificate program of Austin Community College is to be an exemplary program graduating highly qualified individuals to fill the employment needs of clinical laboratories. The Program is committed to serving students and the medical laboratory community through guidance, excellent academic instruction and professional training utilizing traditional and innovative means while understanding the cultural diversity of individuals, maintaining a student-centered philosophy, striving to make wise use of community and educational resources and materials. The faculty of the Phlebotomy Technician Program is committed to providing quality instruction by preparing the graduate to be employable at an entry level in general Phlebotomy and to be successful on the National Certification Examination in Phlebotomy.

Program Goals & Student Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this program the student will successfully:

1. Identify components of the health care delivery system and the services each provides;
2. Identify each department within the laboratory, list tests, and corresponding pathologic conditions associated with each department;
3. Apply knowledge of infection control and safety in the workplace;
4. Demonstrate basic understanding of the anatomy and physiology of body systems and anatomic terminology;
5. Utilize computers, information systems and other technology as related to job duties and responsibilities;
6. Demonstrate basic understanding of age specific or psycho‐social considerations involved in the performance of phlebotomy procedures on various age groups of patients;
7. Demonstrate understanding of the importance of specimen collection and specimen integrity in the delivery of patient care;
8. Identify and report potential pre-analytical errors that may occur during specimen collection, labeling, transporting and processing
9. Demonstrate knowledge of phlebotomy collection equipment, various types of additives used, special precautions necessary and substances that can interfere in clinical analysis of blood constituents;
10. Perform standard operating procedures to collect specimens via venipuncture and capillary (dermal) puncture;
11. Explain the collection of non-blood specimens, such as urine, stool, sputum, throat or others in order to instruct patients, process and handle non-blood specimens.
12. Perform specimen requisitioning and processing;
13. Transport specimens following safety regulations, predetermined criteria, and standard protocol;
14. Explain quality assurance and quality control in phlebotomy;
15. Communicate professionally (verbally and nonverbally) in the workplace;
16. Perform waived and POCT procedures as established using standard protocol and predetermined criteria for testing and quality assurance.
17. To promote diversity and cultural sensitivity among students and faculty in preparation for clinical practice.