Clinical Laboratory Scientist/Medical Technologist of the Future

Task List
The Clinical Laboratory Scientist/Medical Technologist of the future will have an expanded role that builds
on the currently defined Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology Scope of Practice. The future
CLS/MT will move into a variety of additional clinical and non-clinical arenas. This individual will also
assume additional roles that should be in the Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology domain.
CONSULTATION (Internal and External)
1. Consult or advise in all practice settings by correlating laboratory data and patient status.

Physician offices

Hospitals

Government arena

With other health care professionals

Industry

Public health

2.
Provide in-laboratory interpretation of admission laboratory tests and the ordering (according to an
agreed upon rubric/algorithm) of follow up tests. For example, if a person is admitted with a microcytic
hypochromic anemia and a complaint of GI Bleeding, then iron studies are not needed. However, if there
is no clear-cut explanation, then iron studies should be ordered.
Develop clinical laboratory ordering pathways and reflex testing algorithms to expedite quality clinical
care. Provides laboratory expertise to physicians in the proper development of physician driven clinical
pathways.
Develop new rubrics/algorithms for tests based on reading of the scientific literature. (For example the
chemistry supervisor should be the person who determined the availability of troponins and the refusal to
honor requests for older/outmoded tests).
Be equal partners when rules, alerts, order sets, algorithms are developed.
Assist in development of triage protocols for appropriate departments such as the Emergency Room or
Intensive Care Unit to produce the most appropriate information as rapidly as possible.
3. Serve as an enriched partner on healthcare team being available 24/7 to assist physicians and other
clinicians and bringing testing knowledge to rounds along with physicians, nurses, pharmacists, etc.,
communicating the following:

Meaning of test results

Further testing recommendations

Assess patient condition from a laboratory medicine perspective

Participate in rounds and patient care conferences to provide the clinical laboratory perspective.

Proper blood product utilization

Provide information for timing tests and consolidation of blood collection

4. Work collaboratively with healthcare team to improve TAT and the ability to diagnose, treat and
discharge patients in a hospital setting by reducing the number of blood collections and tests ordered by
providing rationale for appropriate testing based on knowledge and algorithm designs similar to a critical
pathway design.
5. Serve as ombudsman/patient advocate to explain the patients condition, medications, the
laboratory tests that support the patient and the general community, and to support family decisionmaking

Develop and provide a service to interpret laboratory results for patients and families

Use standardized computerized information to provide information to patients and families

4.

Provide explanations of data to physicians.

Develop interpretive reporting on laboratory reports

Provide direct one-to-one consultation

5.
Work with Pharmacy and other providers (MDs, NPs, PAs, etc.) to ensure Microbiology test results
and drug therapies are optimal (Antimicrobial Review Technical Specialist).

Recommend changes to pharmacopia or to patterns of medication use. For example, altering the
use of antimicrobials.

Advise nurses and other health care providers of needed changes to medications.

8. Work with hospital and medical quality groups to review blood product usage, waste, utilization, etc.
(Blood Utilization Technical Specialist).
9.
Work with hospital and medical quality groups to review laboratory data of oncology patients
(Oncology Technical Specialist) and to review other laboratory data as Technical Specialist in other areas.
10. Serve on all facility medical practice committees to include, but not be limited to Infection Control,
Medical Practices, Quality Management, Transfusion Committees.
11. Serve as Infection Control Coordinator (Epidemiologist) in the laboratory and/or for the facility.
12. Present grand rounds concerning laboratory utilization.
13. Provide expert testimony in legal situations (Again, this is currently being done in some places but not
all.)
14.

Provides services in risk management

Develop diagnostic and/or therapeutic laboratory protocols for patients by disease category.

Review charts for compliance and make recommendations for action.

Develop clinical laboratory algorithms/ rules for patient management

Serve as Risk Manager

15. Develop and Coordinate Direct Access Testing for facilities in states that allow it.