Goals:To help students understand the operation of a clinical diagnostic laboratory and
thereby promote effective utilization.
Objectives: At the end of the rotation, the student should be able to:
Understand the role of laboratory testing and clinical pathologists in optimal patient
care, including the clinical pathologist's roles as a clinical consultant, researcher,
educator, and medical director.
Properly collect common specimens for chemistry, hematology, transfusion medicine,
and microbiology testing, understanding pre-analytical error.
Describe the basic methods used for commonly ordered tests and the expected turnaround
times, and understanding analytical error.
Interpret common laboratory tests and integrate the results into the patient's diagnostic
or treatment paths, understanding post-analytical error.
Discuss the limitations of commonly ordered tests.
Activities: The student is expected to devote ~30 hours a week to:
Participate in section conferences and meetings, as applicable.
Bench observation with technologists
Weekly or more frequent meetings and/or sign-out with faculty.
Chart review and/or interface with clinicians for patients with complex results.
Independent study.
In general, the learner will spend on e week in chemistry (under Dr. Singh), transfusion
medicine (under Drs. Shikle and Bollag), microbiology (under Dr. Samra), and hematology/hematopathology
(under Dr. Savage).
Lab Hours: 15 weekly Small Group: 2 weekly Seminar Hours: 2 weekly Other: Independent study 11 weekly
Assessment:
Clinical performance evaluation by faculty to assess interpretative and integrative
skills.
Clinical performance evaluation by technologists to assess understanding of basic
testing requirements and methodology.
Clinical performance evaluation by pathology residents to assess participation in
group learning activities.
This elective is by arrangement only. Please contact Courtney Sahm at 706-721-2897
or Csahm@augusta.edu.
