Lesson 2

Practice of Medical Technology in the Philippines

DEFINING THE PRACTICE OF MT PROFESSION

EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES

 discuss the nature of the practice of medical technology profession in relation to the detection of
causes & diagnosis of diseases;
 differentiate medical technology from other laboratory personnel; &
 discuss the opportunities and challenges of medical technology profession.

CONNECTING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

 Science is
 primarily concerned with the natural world & interrelationship among the biological,
psychological & social world.
 Technology is
 The application of science in ways that are considered beneficial to the society
 Can be defined as:
 (1) physical artifact, machine or instrument ;
 (2) activity or a means to accomplish a goal;
 (3) scientific knowledge for practical purposes.
 Science & technology are components of MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

DEFINING MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY PRACTICE

IN THE PHILIPPINES
The medical technology profession & its practice is defined in
• MT act of 1969 section 2
• RA 6132
• PD 498
• PD 1534

SECTION 2. PRACTICE OF MT
 Examination of tissue, secretions & excretions of the human body & body fluids by various
electronic, chemical, microscopic, bacteriologic, hematologic, serologic, immunologic, nuclear, &
other laboratory procedures & techniques either manual or automated;
 Blood banking procedures & techniques;
 Parasitologic, mycologic & microbiologic procedures & techniques;
 Histopathologic and cytotechnology; provided that nothing in this paragraph shall inhibit a duly
registered medical laboratory technician from performing histopathologic techniques &
procedures;
 Clinical research involving patients or human beings requiring the use of and/or application of
medical technology knowledge & procedures;
 Preparations and standardization of reagents, standards, stains & others, provided such reagents,
standards, stains & others are exclusively for the use of their laboratory;
 Clinical laboratory control;
 Collection and preservation of specimens;
 Provided, that any person who has passed the corresponding board examination for the practice
of a profession already regulated by existing law, shall not be subject to the provisions of the last 4
proceeding paragraphs if the performance of such acts or services is merely incidental to his
profession.
 The aforementioned are not exclusive for medical technologists.
 A medical technologist must be licensed before permitted to practice the profession.
 Medical technology is also bound by the accepted pledge of oath in accordance with the Code of
Ethics of Medical Technology

CODE OF MT ETHICS BY DR. NARDITO MORALETA – ORIGINAL VERSION

 Upon entering into the practice of medical technology let it be known that:
 I accept the responsibilities associated with my duties,
 I shall uphold the ideals of my profession.
 I am aware that since the physician relies upon my work in the diagnosis and treatment of
diseases, any error may affect the health or even the life of the patient. Every procedure and
procedure therefore must be carried out with absolute reliability, accuracy, fairness, &
honesty.
 I am aware of the need for mutual understanding and cooperation among my fellow workers
in the medical and paramedical field in the pursuance of a worthy cause.
 I shall strive to prepare the integrity of myself and the professionals from who expect the
same.
 I shall strive to develop necessary virtues needed in my work and shall place my service above
any other considerations.
 I shall restrict my phrases, criticism, values, & opinions, within constructive limits and I shall
not use the knowledge I know as tool for my selfish personal ends.
 I realize that the knowledge I acquired about any individual in the course of my work must be
treated as confidential. And since the physician has the ultimate responsibility in the diagnosis
and treatment, my result must be known only by him. I shall neither make diagnosis nor
interpretations other than this in the report made by me nor shall I advice the physician or
others on how to treat diseases.
 I shall believe in full and equal opportunities in the pursuance of our ideals within the context
of the principles of human rights.
 To these principles, I hereby subscribe, promising to conduct myself at all times in a manner
appropriate to the dignity of my profession.

CHARACTERISTICS OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST

 sensuous & flexible  preferential health servant
 adventurous & self-fulfilling  educative
 Informative  medical mediator paradigmatic
 research-oriented  self-conscious & perfectibility
 health promoter

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS

 Medical Technology is an advancing discipline & profession
 Role of medical technologists is crucial in health care practice.
 The following are the tasks of medical technology professionals in the practice of laboratory
science.

Tasks of Medical Technology Professionals in the Practice of Laboratory Science

A. PERFORM CLINICAL LABORATORY TESTING
 Competency in performing routine laboratory tests like RU & SE
 equipped with skills to do procedures in hematologic, microbiologic, serologic, chemical &
other procedures.
B. PERFORM SPECIAL PROCEDURES
 Skills to do special procedures like molecular & nuclear diagnostics
 To include the operation of advanced diagnostic equipment
C. ENSURE ACCURACY & PRECISION OF RESULTS
 A medical technologist is always conscious of the accuracy and precision of both the
testing process & its results
 Accuracy & precision = interpretation of results by physician = proper medication and
treatment
D. BE HONEST IN PRACTICE
 Act in accordance with MT professional Code of Ethics
 Must be honest all the times in the conduct of test procedures to come up with accurate
& precise results.
E. ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY OF RESULTS
 Awareness of the urgency of delivering results on time
 Alertness to fully address the needs of patients
F. DEMONSTRATE PROFESSIONALISM
 Awareness of laws governing the practice of profession : RA 5527; RA 4688; RA 1517; RA
7719
 Should not exploit its function beyond its boundaries
G. UPHOLD CONFIDENTIALITY
 Requires health care providers to keep a patient’s personal health information private
unless the patient consents to release the information.
H. COLLABORATE W/ OTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS
 Needed to build a well-functioning team
 A highly-trained physician will only be able to efficiently treat patient if lab testing,
monitoring, drug prescription & dosage & more are properly rendered & administered by
other health professionals.
I. CONDUCT OF RESEARCH
  Engaging in research is to update skills
J. INVOLVEMENT IN HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAMS
Active involvement in reaching out community by:
 Cooperate w/ other health care professionals in health promotion campaigns as
promoting the ideal attitudes on hygiene, community sanitation, waste segregation, &
disease prevention.
 Implement pre-planned programs of health promotion campaigns.
 Offer free lab testing
 Collaborate with other health care professionals once diagnoses are done.

DEFINING THE PRACTICE OF OTHER LAB PERSONNEL

 PATHOLOGIST (RA 5527)
 A duly registered physician who is specially trained in methods of laboratory medicine, of the
gross and microscopic study and interpretation of tissues, secretions and excretions of the
human body and its functions in order to diagnose disease, follows its course, determine the
effectiveness of treatment, ascertain cause of death and advance medicine by means of
research.
 A pathologist is always considered the head of the laboratory and monitor all laboratory
results.
 A lab result without the signature of a pathologist may be considered invalid.

 MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN (RA 5527)

 A person certified by & registered with the Board of Medical Technology & qualified to assist a
medical technologist & or/qualified pathologist in the practice of medical technology as
defined in the aforementioned act.
 OTHER QUALIFICATIONS OF LAB TECH
 Failed to pass the MT licensure examination but at least obtained a 70% rating
 When employed in the govt must have the equiv civil service eligibility not lower than the
2nd grade
 Passed the civil service examination for medical technicians given on Mar 21, 1969
 Finished a 2-year college course & has at least (1) year experience of working as a medical
laboratory technician; provided that for every year of experience in college, 2 years of
work experience may be substituted; & provided further that the applicant has at least 10
years of experience as medical technology technician as of the date of approval of this
decree.

 PHLEBOTOMIST
 Trained to draw blood either for laboratory tests or blood donations
 Can be any health care provider provided has a certification by a training body
  In other countries, phlebotomists are trained for 2 months, then take examination to be
recognized as certified phlebotomist by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP),
American Medical Technologist (AMT), & the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

 CYTOTECHNOLOGIST
 works with pathologist to detect changes in body cells which may be important in the early
diagnosis of diseases
 Uses human tissue for microscopic study, using microtomes & other equipment & employs
stain techniques to make cell structure visible or differentiate its parts. Most common stains:
Pap; H&E.

 HISTOTECHNOLOGIST
 Known as histotechnician
 Performs routine reparation, processing, & staining if biopsies for microscopic examination
 US certification is by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS)

 NUCLEAR MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST

 A health care professional who works alongside nuclear physicians
 Apply their knowledge of radiation physics & safety regulations to limit radiation exposure,
prepare & administer radiopharmaceuticals, & use radiation detection devices & other kinds
of lab equipment that measure the quantity & distribution of radionuclides deposited in the
patient or in the patient’s specimen.

 TOXICOLOGIST
 Studies the effects of toxic substances on the physiological functions of human beings,
animals, & plants to develop data for use in consumer protection & industrial safety programs.

OPPORTUNITIES
A MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST CAN WORK AS
 Laboratory scientist
 Researcher
 Analyst in drug testing
 Analyst in pharmaceutical companies,
veterinary clinics, food manufacturing
laboratories, & cosmetic laboratories
 Professional product specialist in
manufacturing, marketing & sales companies
 Cytology or histopathologic technologist
 Cytogenecist or geneticist in molecular
biology laboratories
 Nuclear medical technologist
 Electromyogram technologist
 Medical transcriptionist
 Phlebotomist
 ECG & EEG technologist
 Quality assurance personnel
 Emergency medical technician or ambulance
worker
 Public health sanitation officer or inspector
 Forensic or medico-legal technologist
 Laboratory or hospital information system
officer
 Entrepreneur or owner of clinical
laboratories
 Reviewer in medical technology review
centers
 Laboratory manager
 Program director
 Clinical instructor

OPPORTUNITIES FOR MT GRADUATES -LAB

JOURNAL OF MEDTEK ( JUNE, 2018)
 Product manager/specialist
 Quality assurance officer
 Medical copywriter
 Business development officer
 Medical researcher
 Medical doctor

PROBLEMS
 Continuing education
 Migration of Med Tech