Community Healthcare System Hosts Celebration for School of Medical Laboratory Science Graduates, Earns Accreditation

MLSGradClass16prThey may be one of the smallest graduating classes in Northwest Indiana with just four students, but they are ready to make a big difference in the lives of patients at the hospitals of Community Healthcare System. All four graduates are ready to go to work and have accepted jobs at the hospitals.

The School of Medical Laboratory Science that serves the labs of Community Hospital, Munster; St. Catherine Hospital, East Chicago and St. Mary Medical Center, Hobart is newly accredited and able to meet the present and future demand for staffing in the clinical laboratory industry.

Groundbreaking medical advances over the past century - antibiotics, heart bypass surgeries and chemotherapy for cancer to name a few - have also increased the need for the next generation of quality-trained healthcare workers, especially in the laboratory setting, explained Brenda Eriksen, MD, medical director of Community Healthcare System laboratories.

“Healthcare is growing and evolving and you all will be a part of that great change,” she said addressing the new graduates. “You can look forward to a lifetime of growth on the job. I will look back in my later years and remember that I was a part of your beginning. Welcome to the healthcare fold. You are just getting started…don’t ever stop.”

That growing need for future Medical Laboratory Science staff is what impelled administrators at the hospitals of Community Healthcare System to establish the school and pursue accreditation, according to Ethel Urbi, Dean of the School of Medical Laboratory Science.

“A 2009 report indicated that within the next 10 years, at least 20 percent of the existing lab staff in the United States would be retirement age,” she said. “To help us grow the program in 2013, Community Healthcare System started their own school to replenish staff. After rigorous review and evaluation, we became accredited this year by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences, 2016-2021.”

Medical Laboratory Scientists are highly trained, highly skilled professionals whose contribution to diagnosis and treatment of disease is invaluable. A career in Medical Laboratory Science involves testing of blood and body fluid specimens using complex chemistry analyzers to diagnose heart, liver disease, or cancer, microscopic examination of blood cells for anemia or leukemia; identification of pathogenic organisms causing infection, immunological evaluations and preparation of blood products for life-saving transfusions.

Hobart resident Amanda Cronin said, “Medical Laboratory Science fits my personality; I’m very detail oriented and I knew I would be able to help others.”

The 11-month program is intended for baccalaureate graduates in sciences such as Biological Sciences, Microbiology, Molecular Biology or Pre-professional. The course includes 22 weeks of classroom instruction in clinical laboratory sciences, hands-on student laboratory activities and intensive 24 weeks on-the-job clinical training.

Graduate Jacqueline Beilfuss of Crown Point said, “I have a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne. I wanted to continue my career in the field of math and science. It was nice to have such a small class size. We leaned on each other and I met three of my best friends.”

Melody Palmer of Burns Harbor said, “This was something that I could do that was close to home that would enable me to pursue my interest in lab science. It was a good experience.”

Mary Brack of Valparaiso said, “I liked the thought of an opportunity to work behind the scenes in the lab, but still be able to help patients and use my knowledge of science in my career. Moving forward, I have a position in the laboratory at St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart.”

Classes are scheduled to begin again July 11, 2016. Graduates interested in pursuing a career in Medical Laboratory Science who would like to request an application packet should contact Mary S. Wallace MS, MT (ASCP), Program Director-School of Medical Laboratory Science, 219-392-7259, mwallace@comhs.org.