The medical technology curriculum at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center develops competent professionals, skilled in both theory and practice of laboratory procedures. Providing a backdrop for the clinical experience is a highly automated clinical laboratory, where a wide variety of routine and specialty test procedures are performed daily.

The medical center admits over 30,000 patients every year which, in addition to trauma center, outpatient, and reference lab requests, results in over 2.3 million billable tests performed annually. The laboratory employs a full-time equivalent staff of over 225 technical and professional personnel to maintain this workload. Ten pathologists, a clinical chemist, and a microbiologist, and cytogeneticist are also on staff. The large number of patients treated-as well as hospital specialties in neonatology, cardiology, obstetrics, hemodialysis, trauma, neurology and sports medicine-enable the medical technology student at OSF Saint Francis to experience a wide variety of clinical specimens and procedures.

In 1932, the School for Laboratory Technicians was formally established at Saint Francis Medical Center when the first requirements for laboratory schools were detailed by the American Medical Association. Today, the School of Medical Technology maintains full accreditation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).

Admission to the OSF Saint Francis School of Medical Technology is competitive, with a limited number of student positions available annually. Attendance at an affiliated institution does not guarantee placement in the OSF Saint Francis program. Individuals who have already completed a U.S., or equivalent, baccalaureate degree may also apply.

Individuals are encouraged to contact the program director with questions regarding admission eligibility based on attendance at an academic institution not directly affiliated with OSF Saint Francis.

Academic Schedule
Classes are scheduled Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. daily. Lectures are scheduled 2 to 3 hours per day. Students are in rotations through the laboratory departments for the remainder of each week. Each student follows an individualized clinical rotation schedule, allowing one-to-one interaction with their designated instructor.

Classes start in August. This allows students a variety of summer school, work and vacation opportunities prior to starting the clinical year. The program is completed in late June each year, so that graduates remain competitive in the job market. Students graduate in sufficient time to prepare for the NCA certification exam (late July, for the CLS(NCA) credential) and the Board of Registry certification exam.

Vacation & Holidays
Each student is allocated personal time during the year, to be used for sick time, job interviews and absences for other personal reasons. Three additional weeks of vacation are scheduled-two weeks over the Christmas and New Year holidays, and one week each Spring. Classes are canceled for these additional holidays each year: Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the Friday following it, and Memorial Day.

Health Services and Insurance
Students are responsible for their own health care costs during the school year. It is strongly recommended that all students obtain health insurance coverage for the duration of the program. Enrolled students have access to emergency medical care at all times during the clinical program.

Student Policies
At orientation all enrolled students will receive a student handbook. It explains the curriculum and evaluation mechanisms in detail, as well as all school policies and procedures the student must be familiar with.

Dress Code
Students may wear either an all-white uniform or colored scrub suits. White leather duty shoes or athletic shoes (without any canvas or fabric sections) must be worn in the laboratory. Hair must be worn short or pulled back in a secure manner from the face so as not to obscure peripheral vision or to drop accidentally into testing materials. Fluid-resistant lab coats and other personal protective wear will be provided for students' use during the clinical year.