Phlebotomy

Phlebotomists obtain blood specimens promptly, efficiently and safely. Phlebotomists typically work in hospital clinical laboratories, out-patient labs, physician's offices, donor centers, pharmaceutical firms, research institutions, hospices, public health clinics and many other venues, both civilian and military. As integral members of the health care team, phlebotomists must be well trained in all aspects of specimen collection and transport. They also must maintain high standards of professionalism and compassion while interacting with patients and their families.

After completion of this certificate program, students are eligible to take a national certification exam of their choice.

Employment of phlebotomists is projected to grow 10% from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations. Hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, blood donor centers, and other locations will need phlebotomists to perform blood work.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics

All students must be able to perform the essential functions of the curriculum. In addition to the general admission criteria required by the college, phlebotomy students must be able to:

• Use digital fine motor skills with both hands continually throughout the day.
• See clearly enough to read hand-written and computer-generated communications.
• Work standing on their feet for the majority of the day.
• Walk to and from patient service areas of the hospital for the majority of the day.
• Help patients in and out of phlebotomy chairs and tables.
• Write and speak to patients and staff effectively.
• Interact appropriately with patients, physicians, peers and supervisor.
• Use good judgment to seek assistance when needed.
• Lift a minimum of 25 pounds unassisted.
• Apply safety and infection control standards learned in the program to maintain a safe and clean environment for patients and self.

Pre-requisites
All students must have completed MRT-110 (Medical Terminology) with a minimum grade of "C".

Transcripts
A complete US high school transcript showing date of graduation or a GED certificate must be submitted to the coordinator prior to the start of the second half of the program.

Phlebotomy Program Handbook

Upon successful completion of PHB-110, students may enroll in PHB-111, Phlebotomy Clinical Practice Seminar, and PHB-112, Phlebotomy Clinical Practice. Students receive clinical experience during PHB-112.

Before clinical assignments can be made, students must obtain and/or provide:

Physical Examination, TB testing, and titers for viral conditions 
Students are required to obtain a physical examination. The student is responsible for the cost of the physical examination, and all of the tuberculosis testing, blood test titers for Rubella, Rubeola, Mumps, and Varicella, and hepatitis B, immunizations specified on the physical examination form.

Drug Screen 
Students are required to submit to and successfully complete a specific 10-panel drug screen. Unsuccessful completion of the drug screen requirement may prohibit a student from receiving a clinical assignment, pending physician review of the results.

Health insurance
Students are required to have personal health insurance for the duration of their clinical rotation.

Criminal Background Checks
In order to comply with certain state statutes and/or clinical affiliation agreements, students are required to successfully complete a criminal background check. Students who have an arrest or conviction on their record should consult an attorney regarding expungement procedures. A “clear’ criminal background result is required in most cases.

CPR Training
Students are required to be CPR for Basic Life Support certified via the American Heart Association. Students who are not already CPR certified must obtain CPR certification as a separate activity during PHB-110. Moraine Valley offers CPR for Basic Life Support training through the Workforce Development. The course number is AH8-039. For more information on CPR for Basic Life Support, please contact Corporate, Community and Continuing Education (CCCE) at (708) 974-5433. Students are financially responsible for the CPR training required.

Transcripts
A US high school transcript or a GED certificate showing date of graduation must be submitted to the clinical coordinator prior to the start of the second half of the program. An evaluation of foreign transcript demonstrating equivalency to US high school is also acceptable.

HIPAA Confidentiality Training
Students are required to successfully complete HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Confidentiality) training as provided by the Moraine Valley program. The training is free.

Rotation and Facilities
The clinical rotations include 108 clock hours of training at one of the program's clinical affiliate sites. Clinical internship rotations are staggered throughout the semester and assignments are decided by early completion of all pre-clinical requirements. Whoever completes pre-clinical requirement first, selects a clinical assignment first, including dates and location.

Availability of clinical sites is provided to eligible students and are considered temporary and may change without notice at the request of the clinical site. If the 108 hours of clinical practice cannot be completed due to unforeseen circumstances, the student will receive a grade of Incomplete (“I”) for PHB-112 until such time the required hours can be completed. Once clinical practice hours have been completed, the “I”, will be changed to letter grade earned.

Moraine Valley’s strong reputation allows us to host clinical internships at high-quality health care facilities including:

• Advocate Aurora Christ Hospital and Medical Center, Oak Lawn
• Alverno Patient Service Center, Joliet
• Alverno Patient Service Center, Olympia Fields
• Amita Saint Joseph Medical Center, Joliet
• Duly Medical Group, Blue Island and Tinley Park
• Edward-Elmhurst Health Center, Plainfield
• Edward Hospital, Naperville
• Elmhurst Hospital, Elmhurst
• Ingalls Memorial Hospital, Harvey
• OSF Little Company of Mary Hospital, Evergreen Park
• Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago
• Northwestern Medicine, Palos Hospital, Palos Heights
• Quest Diagnostics Patient Service Center, Naperville
• Silver Cross Hospital, New Lenox
• University of Chicago Hospital, Chicago

Service Work
Per NAACLS accreditation standard “Service work by students in clinical settings outside of academic hours must be noncompulsory.”  Students attending the phlebotomy clinical internship, PHB-112, do not participate in service work as stated in the PHB-112 Syllabus.

Students may work at a clinical site if that is also their employment. However, any work hours for which the student is paid may NOT be counted as clinical hours.  Students may NOT be substituted for regular staff during their student experiences.

Moraine Valley Notification of Clinical Health Requirements
Moraine Valley Community College partners with healthcare facilities to provide clinical experiences for its students. These facilities prescribe various health requirements for all students who are placed at their clinical sites. Students who intend to participate in the clinical component of any program must submit documentation reflecting their compliance with the following clinical health requirements*1 prior to the deadline established by their program of study.

1. Measles (Rubeola) Titer
2. Mumps Titer
3. Rubella Titer
4. Varicella (Chicken Pox) Titer
5. Hepatitis B Titer
6. QuantiFERON-TB Gold Blood Test Annually
7. Tdap Vaccine every 10 years
8. Influenza (Flu) Vaccine Annually
9. COVID-19 Full Vaccination
10. Physical Exam by Healthcare Professional
11. American Heart Association BLS CPR for Healthcare Professionals every 2 years
12. Background Check Annually
13. Drug Screen Annually
14. Medical Health Insurance – Upload Card Annually

Unless otherwise indicated, in writing, by a student's assigned clinical site, all of the above health requirements must be met before the student may participate in a clinical rotation.

A student who fails to timely submit documentation by set compliance deadlines reflecting compliance with the clinical health requirements listed above may be unable to participate in the required clinical component of their program in a timely manner, and their graduation may be delayed. The College cannot guarantee clinical placements for students who fail to satisfy all clinical health requirements by the set compliance deadlines.

Inquiries regarding the College’s clinical health requirements may be directed to Lori Schmidt via 708-608-4223 or schmidtl66@herosee.net.

*1 This list of clinical health requirements is subject to change based upon the policies of the clinical facilities. Students will be notified, in writing, of any modifications to the list of clinical health requirements.

Program Mission
The program’s mission is to educate and train students to meet standards of practice for entry-level phlebotomy professionals. Faculty will use appropriate methodologies to promote student learning.

Student learning will emerge from the cognitive (intellectual), psychomotor (physical), clinical and effective (social, emotional and ethical) elements of phlebotomy as defined for the entry-level practitioner by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) and the Moraine Valley Community College Phlebotomy Program Advisory Committee. Student learning will occur within an intellectual atmosphere that promotes continuing education as part of professional dedication and lifelong learning and within an ethical framework for student conduct in both the classroom and clinical settings.

Program Outcomes
Two program outcomes (goals) have been identified for the Moraine Valley Community College Phlebotomy Program. The outcomes have been developed based on the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) and the recommendations of the Moraine Valley Community College Phlebotomy Program Advisory Committee. The Moraine Valley Community College Phlebotomy Program will provide students with:

1. Training in blood collection skills that are consistent with entry level in the profession.
2. A comprehensive didactic framework for the blood collection procedures presented, preparing students to successfully challenge the phlebotomy certification exam of their choice.

Completion of the Moraine Valley’s program is NOT dependent upon successful completion of a phlebotomy certification exam.

Full-Time Faculty

Program Coordinator/PD
Rita Kealy, MM., MT(ASCP)
kealyr@herosee.net
(708) 974-5583

Clinical Coordinator
Lori Schmidt, BS, MT(ASCP)
schmidtl66@herosee.net
(708) 608-4223

Adjunct Faculty 
Office Location B150
(708) 974-5708

Jennifer Connor-Smith, MSN, RNC, PBT(ASCP)
connorj7@herosee.net

Ellen Wallace, BS, MT(ASCP)
wallacee25@herosee.net

• American Society for Clinical Pathology
• The Laboratory Medicine Profession
• A Career as a Phlebotomy Technician or as a Donor Phlebotomy Technician
• Certification Information
• Certification Maintenance Program
• Center for Phlebotomy Education
• Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute
• National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
• A Career in the Medical Laboratory

National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
5600 No. River Road, Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018-5119
Phone: (773)714-8880
www.naacls.org