Concorde Staff
Every day we're seeing new ways to treat different diseases that in the past were either untreatable or fatal. Now with gene therapy and molecular chemical engineering, we are able to affect and even cure medical conditions and diseases like never before. What worked 10 years ago, or even five years ago, is now antiquated when it comes to treatment of certain diseases.
For the medical professional, this can be a confusing labyrinth. If you are working in the medical field, it behooves you to stay on top of the latest and greatest drug treatments when it comes to disease. As a Medical Lab Technician (MLT), you are one of the lucky few that gets to see some of these developments in real time - up close - as they develop in the lab. MLTs often supply the data that leads to the diagnoses of some of the advances in medical care we all seek most.
According to Center Watch, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a number of medications in 2020. Understanding the purpose and use of each new drug can be confusing and overwhelming. Knowing the function and effects of these drugs can mean the world to patients. Your expertise as an MLT has never been more important.
MLT - A CLOSER LOOK
What does it take to be an MLT? Your attention to detail and natural curiosity are especially good traits, and if you're drawn to the sciences - particularly chemistry and biology - a career as a medical lab tech may be just the fit for you. Your career in health care will be marked by helping others in a decidedly "behind-the-scenes" role. This may sound perfect to you; if so, know that you'll still work with others and under the supervision of a physician or lab manager. You'll have co-workers and might likely work in a busy hospital environment.
WHAT DOES AN MLT DO?
Your duties as an MLT would likely include setting up and sanitizing labs, preparing specimens, matching blood compatibility for transfusion, isolating and identifying pathogens and analyzing tissue and fluid samples, all with the aid of sophisticated equipment including microscopes, cell counters, and automated analyzers. The accurate recording of data is a critical element of your daily job.
WHAT FIELDS CAN A MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN WORK IN?
Depending on your location, you can complete the MLT program in as little as 20 months. During your time at Concorde, you'll learn many things, among them:
- Chemical analyses of body fluids
- Blood tests for transfusions
- Examinations of dye-stained cells to locate abnormalities
- Preparation and analysis of test results
- Diagnosis of abnormal cells
- Collection of blood or tissue samples
The skills you will learn will prepare you to work in a variety of health care settings and careers, including:
- Bioinformatics
- Education
- Forensics
- Lab information systems
- Research
- Veterinary medicine
WHAT'S THE CAREER OUTLOOK FOR LAB TECHS?
Though the services of MLTs have always been necessary for the accurate diagnosis of patient health concerns, a new tide is rising as the Baby Boom generation increasingly puts pressure on the health care system. Our aging population has created a need for more tests, including for cancer, diabetes and other age-related procedures, in turn creating a need for more health care professionals across the board.
According to the Bureau of Labor Standards Occupational Outlook Handbook, medical laboratory technician jobs are projected to grow at a higher-than-average rate of 22%, adding 70,600 jobs to the employment rolls by 2022.
YOUR TRAINING ENVIRONMENT AT CONCORDE
We believe in a curriculum and educational model that prepares you confidently - expertly - for your first day on the job. Our instruction is personal, hands-on and takes place both in the classroom and in high-end laboratories that replicate what you will see after you graduate and begin to navigate your professional life. This will help you succeed from Day One in your career, giving you the confidence you need as you take your place alongside your team members in the lab. Your Concorde training also provides you with off-site clinical opportunities so that you can experience hands-on, real-world learning as part of your overall education.
GET STARTED
If you're looking to combine your curiosity about drugs and diseases with your aptitude for science, be sure to consider Concorde's medical laboratory technician program. You can help patients and make a difference while working as part of a respected health care team.
Contact a member of the Concorde advising staff to see how quickly you can get started. A career in health care is just around the corner.
Are You College Ready?
How you think and what you love about life might give you important insights about your college readiness. Our NEW College Readiness Quiz provides instant feedback with your results. Click the button to get started!
