Students agree to abide by the rules and regulations of Sentara RMH and the Sentara RMH School of Medical Laboratory Science when accepting admission. Any serious infraction of these regulations will be cause for dismissal.
- Students are required to report to their respective laboratories at 7 a.m. each day unless directed otherwise. Dismissal is at 2:30 p.m.
- Students are required to call their laboratory section and the program director or education coordinator by 8 a.m. if they are unable to attend class for any reason on a particular day, or if they will be arriving late.
- Students are required to seek the permission of the laboratory supervisor and the program director or education coordinator if they must leave the hospital premises, or if they find it necessary to leave early for a weekend or vacation period.
- All students must be dressed according to the laboratory dress code and adhere to all safety policies and procedures.
- Students are granted five sick days, a Thanksgiving vacation, a Christmas vacation and a spring break. Sick days may only be used for an illness. (A doctor’s excuse may also be required.) Other absences are discouraged and arrangements to make up time must be made prior to the absence.
- Students are to conduct themselves as professionals at all times and maintain patient confidentiality.
Additional rules may be found in the school's curriculum/student catalog guide.
Causes for Dismissal
- Failure to maintain a grade point average of 70% in any subject, rotation or any form of evaluation.
- Failure of two consecutive lecture tests in one subject or four quizzes in one subject.
- One unsatisfactory clinical rotation test, evaluation, or practical.
- Abusive or inconsiderate treatment of patients.
- Falsification of application materials.
- Excessive absenteeism and tardiness as addressed in the RMH rules and regulations.
- Gross neglect of duty, insubordination, dishonesty or misappropriation of hospital property.
- Incompetence, falsification of records, disorderly conduct, soliciting for tips.
- Willful destruction of hospital property.
- Habits or state of health dangerous to the student, to other students, employees or to patients.
- Alcohol and/or drug abuse-includes drinking or being drunk on the job.
- Gambling on hospital premises.
- Molesting employees or patients or conviction of drug abuse.
- Cheating on any type of evaluation (tests, practical exams, or oral exams etc.)
- Failure to pass the Comprehensive Exam with a 70%.
- Failure to follow the rules and regulations of RMH and the school to include the Professional Dress Code.
- Failure to follow the rules and instructions of the Student Lab resulting in a failing grade of less than 70% on two or more student labs.
- Once dismissed from the program, a student will not be readmitted for any reason.
- Students wanting information about their status should contact the school in writing with signature. The school will respond to the student in writing within two weeks of the request for information. Communication regarding dismissal should be in writing between the student and the school.
- A violation of 2 or more Sentara Red Rules as listed on Wavenet; for example, misidentification of patients or reporting inaccurate results on a didactic or rotation practical exam.
The didactic portion of the program will take place at Sentara RMH in Harrisonburg. Clinical rotations will be offered at Sentara RMH, and at Sentara Norfolk General in eastern Virginia. Students will have an opportunity to indicate their preference for the site of their clinical rotation.
Supervised Clinical Education Assignments
This course is a 12-month program of didactic and practical training. Students are under the direct supervision of the program director and education coordinator. Formal lectures on the theory of various laboratory tests are given by certified medical laboratory scientists and physicians. Students spend time in a student laboratory, then rotate through all the departments in the clinical laboratory.
Grading System
The grading system is as follows:
- A = 90-100%
- B = 80-89%
- C = 70-79%
- Below C = unacceptable grade
Requirements for Graduation
Students must maintain a minimum of 70% on all course work.
Graduation depends on the fulfillment of the following requirements: A cumulative average of “C” in the didactic portion, 80% or higher on the clinical rotation area, and a passing grade (70% or higher) on the comprehensive examination.
Certificates
A certificate of graduation and a pin are awarded to each student upon satisfactory completion of the course in medical laboratory science.
National Certification Examinations
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible for certification by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists Board of Registry.
Academic Affiliations
The Sentara RMH School of Medical Laboratory Science is affiliated with:
- Bridgewater College, Bridgewater, VA
- Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA
- George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
- Miami University, Oxford, OH
- Radford University, Radford, VA
- Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA
- Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA
- York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA
Health Services
Sentara RMH Emergency Department services are available to students for charges as rendered in the same manner as Sentara RMH employees. Students are required to have a current hospitalization policy and are responsible for all charges rendered as an inpatient.
Holidays
Classes are tentatively scheduled to begin the second week of January and the third week of June. Holidays include the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.
Dress Code
Students are required to dress in solid black scrubs while in class and on clinical rotation.
Fair Practices in Education
The Sentara RMH School of Medical Laboratory Science does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, family responsibilities or political affiliation.
Accreditation
The Sentara RMH School of Medical Laboratory Science is accredited by the following:
National Accrediting Agency For Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS)
5600 N. River Road, Suite 720
Rosemont, Illinois 60018
Phone: 773-714-8880
NAACLS
NAACLS is not an accrediting organization recognized by the United States Department of Education.
The Sentara RMH School of Medical Laboratory Science has no branch locations.
The Sentara RMH School of Medical Laboratory Science is certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.
Outcome Measures
With regard to outcome measures, the Sentara RMH School of Medical Laboratory Science has had a 100% pass rate on the ASCP Board of Certification exam for the last 20 years. Also, the three year average graduation rate percentage is 100%, and the three year average placement rate percentage is 100%.