COMPETENCIES OF MEDICAL LABORATORY PERSONNEL : BASIS FOR DEVELOPING A HEALTH TRAINING PROGRAM

Competence is defined as the quality or state of having sufficientknowledge, judgment, skill, or strength for a particular duty or in a particularrespect.Thus, for medical technologists to be considered “competent” they haveto possess sufficient medical knowledge, practical judgment, skill in the laboratory,or demonstrable attributes necessary to the performance of being a medicallaboratory scientist.This study seeks to answer the problem of an observed competency gap in some areas in health care knowledge, literacy, and skills among medical laboratory personnel.

This study used a self-rated survey questionnaireas the descriptive survey method of researchtoassessed the level of competencies in the area of clinical work and fieldexpertise of selected medical laboratory personnel in Metro Manila in terms ofResearch, Quality Management Systems, General Laboratory Practices,Communication, Management and Leadership, Professional Ethics, WorkForceTraining, Emergency Management and Response, and Laboratory Safety.

Based on the result of the self-rated survey,the respondents are “moderately competent” inthe following areas:Research, Communication, WorkForce Training skills, and Laboratory Safety. In response, aproposed health matrix program was created inthese competencyareasthat showeda need for continuing education and training.

Although the respondents scored “highly competent” in Quality Management System, General Laboratory Practice, Management and Leadership, and Professional Ethics, the researcher still suggests further training in these areas to become more proficient and expert.