The Six-Month Internship Training Program for Medical Laboratory Science Education: An Initial Evaluation

Abstract

In 2006, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) released CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) no. 14 which changed the duration of internship training program to six months as opposed to the previous memorandum order, CMO no. 27 s. 1998 which required a one-year internship schedule for Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) students. Thirty-eight graduates of CMO No. 14 s. 2006 from Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas and 13 chief medical technologists (CMT) or senior medical laboratory staff from identified affiliate hospitals were surveyed about their perception on the attainment of the objectives, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the said program. Results show that objectives were achieved even if the duration of the training period was shortened. The graduate-respondents favored the one year timetable. This study can be used as a pilot study for other higher education institutions implementing the same CMO and can be used as a basis for a curricular reform by assessing the different parameters that were identified in order to enhance further the six-month internship training program in producing globally competitive medical laboratory scientists.