From Technical Assistants to Critical Thinkers: From World War II to 2014

Abstract

A review of professional literature was conducted to examine the history of the education of medical laboratory practitioners. This comprehensive review included historical educational milestones from World War II to present day. During this time period the standard of two years of college required for matriculation into a medical technology program increased to four years. Critical thinking skills promoted in the educational model and applied in practice expanded from an analytic and psychomotor orientation to include those requiring extensive situational interpretation and negotiation. By the end of the twentieth century, the clinical laboratory had experienced significant scientific and technologic transformations necessitating greatly expanded roles for the medical laboratory practitioner. Though the educational requirements and education model have changed minimally since the 1970's, the knowledge and skills required for the next generation of medical laboratory practitioners continue to escalate. The second decade of the 21^st century portends a transformation in medical laboratory practitioner education commensurate with the rapid advancement of science, technology, communications, and the precepts of evidence-based practice.

ABBREVIATIONS: Affordable Care Act - ACA, Ambulatory patient groups - APG, American Society of Clinical Pathologists - ASCP, American Society for Medical Technology - ASMT, Board of Certification - BOC, Board of Registry - BOR, Board of Schools - BOS, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services - CMS, Certified laboratory assistants - CLA, Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments - CLIA, Clinical laboratory - CL, Clinical laboratory scientist - CLS, Critical thinking - CT, Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Science - DCLS, Diagnosis Related Groups - DRGs, Electronic health records - EHR, Evidence-based practice - EBP, Health informatics - HI, Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health - HITECH, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act - HIPAA, Healthcare Financing Administration - HCFA, Laboratory aide - LA, Medical technologist - MT, Medical laboratory scientist - MLS, Medical laboratory technician - MLT, National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences - NAACLS, National Certification Agency - NCA, Problem-based learning - PBL, Quality control - QC, Research and development - R&D, Specialist in Blood Bank - SBB, Specialist in Chemistry - SC, Specialist in Microbiology - SM, World War II - WWII