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ULM’s Medical Laboratory Science program receives maximum accreditation award

Published October 25, 2016

MONROE, La. — The University of Louisiana Monroe’s Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Program has received the maximum accreditation award of 10 years from the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). 

The NAACLS Board of Directors’ award is based on the continuing accreditation review process that included a site visit of the ULM MLS program in April of 2016. The NAACLS site visit team noted the following areas of strength for the ULM MLS program: (1) faculty commitment confirmed by comments from students, clinical liaisons, and advisory committee; (2) financial and philosophical support from the healthcare community serviced by the ULM program; (3) outcomes exceed benchmarks recommended by NAACLS and indicate the effectiveness of the program to prepare Medical Laboratory Scientists, and (4) the quality of the graduates and their preparation for the job market.

pani
Pani

Dr. Eric Pani, ULM’s VP of academic affairs, noted that the accreditation renewal reflects the high quality of the program and its success in building partnerships with area hospitals and clinics.

“This program has been identified by many of the hospitals and clinics in the region as very important to them since medical laboratory scientists are essential for quality testing services,” Pani said. “I am very pleased that our program has continued its accreditation. It speaks to the quality of the education our students receive, the credentials of our faculty, and the important relationships we have with the professional community in this area.”

NAACLS accreditation is a process of external peer review in which the agency grants public recognition to a program of study that meets nationally established standards of educational quality. Primary aspects of the NAACLS programmatic accreditation process are: the self-study process; the site visit process; evaluation by a review committee; assessment of review committee evaluation by the Quality Assurance Committee, and evaluation by the Board of Directors. Evaluation is based on Standards, which are the minimum criteria used when determining programmatic accreditation.    

wisenor
Wisenor

“The MLS faculty are extremely proud of the NAACLS accreditation award,” said Dr. Debbie Wisenor, associate professor and MLS program director. “The ULM MLS program is recognized for its quality curriculum and excellent outcomes while serving the healthcare community by providing competent, entry-level graduates that fill a critical need in medical laboratories. The support received from university administration, community partners, and clinical affiliates have made the continuing success of the medical laboratory science program possible.”

About the NAACLS
NAACLS is committed to being the premier international agency for accreditation and approval of educational programs in the clinical laboratory sciences and related health professions through the involvement of expert volunteers and its commitment to public service.


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