Phlebotomy--More About the Program

Aphlebotomist is an integral member of the medical laboratory team. Laboratory scientists, technologists and technicians require blood specimens that have been obtained promptly, efficiently and safely by qualified phlebotomists.

Phlebotomists must be well trained in all aspects of specimen collection and handling, and must also be able to maintain high standards of professionalism with clients or patients.

To insure quality training is available to persons interested in this field, Moraine Valley Community College offers a Phlebotomy Training Program. This program is approved by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)*. This nine-credit program presents the basics of phlebotomy in a three-course sequence.

PHB-110 Principles and Practice of Phlebotomy (6 Credit Hours)
This course consists of lecture and laboratory sessions covering phlebotomy equipment and techniques. Course work also includes laboratory safety, infection control, terminology, and anatomy and physiology appropriate to phlebotomy. This course trains students to be effective participants on a medical laboratory team. Instruction, demonstration and practice of blood collection are included. Communication techniques are also explored.

Principles and Practice of Phlebotomy is offered every semester. Three sections are available: section 001 is scheduled for mornings; section 002 is scheduled for early afternoon; and, section 201 is scheduled for late afternoon and evening.

The first half of the course is the most challenging academically. The last half of the course concentrates on preparing to the student for the clinical experience and obtaining bloodsamples by venipuncture. To successfully complete PHB-110, students must complete at least 55 successful venipunctures—30 taken from artificial arms and 25 from fellow students.

PHB-111—Phlebotomy Clinical Practice Seminar (1 Credit Hour)
Corequisite: PHB-112
The course includes a series of workshops addressing issues related to the student’s clinical rotation and/or the field of phlebotomy. Discussion topics include student reaction to supervised clinical experiences, professional issues, communication skills appropriate for a diverse patient population, and application of customer service skills. Issues related to the student's clinical rotation are also discussed.

PHB-112—Phlebotomy Clinical Practice (2 Credit Hours)
Corequisite: PHB-111
This course consists of 120 contact hours of supervised practice of phlebotomy at an affiliate hospital or accredited laboratory. This course provides a student with clinical phlebotomy experience.

Upon successful completion of the Principles and Practice of Phlebotomy (PHB-110) course, a student is scheduled for 120 hours of clin¬ical practice. Only one student is scheduled at a clinical facility at a time. Therefore, student clinical rotations are staggered throughout the semester. Present sites include the following:

• Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital
• Advocate Christ Hospital and Medical Center
• Advocate South Suburban Hospital
• Alverno/Provena Clinical Laboratories/Patient Service Center Division
• Alverno/Provena Clinical Laboratories/St. James Hospital
• Alverno/Provena Clinical Laboratories/ St. James Hospital at Olympia Fields
• Edward Hospital
• Ingalls Memorial Hospital
• Little Company of Mary Hospital
• Northern Illinois Clinical Laboratories
• Palos Community Hospital
• Pronger Smith Clinic
• Quest Diagnostics
• Silver Cross Hospital

*National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
8410 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 670
Chicago, IL 60631-3415
Phone: (773)714-8880
Web Site: http://www.naacls.org