MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS

Dedication Opportunity Challenge Impact Rewards

Medical technologists in the U.S. Public Health Service can choose from a variety of challenging opportunities within PHS agencies and several other federal programs. Clinical care, health promotion, research and administration are among the many paths to pursue.

PHS priority needs are for clinical medical technologists in primary care facilities, such as community and migrant health centers, clinics in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and the Indian Health Service. Opportunities for medical technologists offer a broad range of work experiences in multi-disciplinary clinical settings which include the major scientific fields of hematology, immunology, clinical chemistry, or microbiology. Other opportunities are available for medical technologists to work in research laboratories, health care administration, as salaried employees of community and migrant health centers, or as regional consultants.

As Officers of the PHS Commissioned Corps or as Civil Service employees, medical technologists earn a competitive salary and generous Federal benefits, and can choose assignments or agencies without losing their PHS tenure.

Student Medical Technology Programs

Medical technology students enrolled in the final two years of an accredited medical technology training program can gain paid, professional experience through COSTEP, the Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program. COSTEP students work for 31 to 120 days in clinical as well as administrative settings.

Also, continuing professional education for PHS medical technologists is encouraged through degree program course work, conferences and symposia, and on-site seminars.

AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITIES

Bureau of Prisons (BOP)

The BOP employs medical technologists in a variety of correctional settings. Opportunities are available through the Commissioned Corps or Civil Service, and range from supervised positions for new graduates to challenging supervisory/administrative roles for the experienced medical technologist. The BOP is considered to be an international model for correctional techniques. The facilities are progressive in design and many are located near or in metropolitan centers like Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami. Others, like the facilities in Allenwood, PA, Sheridan, OR, and Raybrook, NY, (the former Olympic Village at Lake Placid) provide a rural setting.

Indian Health Service (IHS)

The Indian Health Service provides comprehensive health care to 1.4 million American Indians and Alaskan Natives through more than 250 hospitals and clinics nationwide. In many of these facilities, the IHS operates fully accredited, modern, well-equipped clinical laboratories, which provide a variety of career opportunities to the medical technologist.

IHS medical technologists work together in a stimulating cross cultural environment. Most IHS laboratory facilities are small and provide individuals with a collegial work atmosphere where they are an equal and respected partner of the health care team.

Most IHS facilities are west of the Mississippi, including the Northern Plains States, the Southwest, the Pacific Northwest, and Alaska.

Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)

The Immigration and Naturalization Service Health Care Program (INS HCP) plans, directs, and provides health care to detained aliens while they are in the custody of the INS. Medical technologists assigned to the INS HCP are members of a small but elite health care team. Assignments are available to Commissioned Officers at medical facilities located in Massachusetts, New York, Florida, Texas, Arizona, and California. COs assigned to the INS HCP should be fluent in Spanish or willing to learn the language.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Medical technologists at the NIH's Clinical Center, a 540 bed research hospital and laboratory complex in Bethesda, MD, provide specialized support to patients participating in research trials. Areas of study include neurology, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, allergy and infectious diseases, child development and general medicine.

Opportunities for medical technologists are more limited in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, and the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research than in other agencies. While medical technologists in these agencies may be hired at the benchmark (Bachelor of Science) degree, additional opportunities are afforded to those medical technologists with advanced educational credentials and/or work experience.

U.S. Public Health Service medical technologists make a difference in the lives of many Americans - while building challenging health careers. To learn more, call the PHS Recruitment Program at 1-800-279-1605.