History of UNMC's CLS Program
Inception of the partnership
The separately accredited medical technology programs at Bishop Clarkson Memorial Hospital, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and Nebraska Methodist Hospital combined their resources in a cooperative effort in 1968. In order to improve curriculum, increase opportunities for Nebraska residents to obtain a quality education and assure cost-effective education, these three programs have continued their successful partnership for more than 35 years under the UNMC Division of Medical Technology. Each program maintained its own sponsorship, identity and accreditation, while all students in these 3+1 programs are enrolled as UNMC students, pay University tuition and receive B.S. degrees from the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
In the UNMC Clinical Laboratory Science Program, the programs participate equally in joint policy and decision making; recruitment, selection and admission of students; curriculum planning; a cooperative, combined lecture series for all students; evaluation systems, and common policies and procedures covering all aspects of the educational programs.
A new look with institutional changes
On October 1, 1997, the University of Nebraska Hospital and Bishop Clarkson Memorial Hospital signed an agreement to merge their health care activities into the Nebraska Health System. A new clinical affiliation agreement between the new system and UNMC academic programs assures continued support of clinical education of clinical laboratory science students. In May 1998, the Bishop Clarkson program ceased its separate accreditation and became integrated into the UNMC academic program for the incoming class of 1998-99.
The Nebraska Health System chose to change their name in July 2003 to The Nebraska Medical Center. The former Clarkson Hospital structure is now referred to as the Clarkson Tower, and the former University Hospital structure is now referred to as the University Tower.
A new name
In 2004 the program chose to change its name to "Division of Laboratory Sciences" with the Clinical Laboratory Science and Cytotechnology programs under this division. This reflects the profession's change in name as indicated by our professional organizations and national registry examinations.
Programs continue combined program partnership
The programs at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Methodist Hospital continue their long-standing cooperative efforts in the Division of Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Professions. Nebraska Methodist Hospital continues as the major site of clinical education of students in that program. The Nebraska Medical Center is the major clinical affiliate site of the UNMC program, while clinical affiliate sites at Creighton Medical Center in Omaha, Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte, Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings, St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island, and Faith Regional Medical Center in Norfolk continue to provide clinical education for students who wish to obtain the major portion of their education in Nebraska. In addition, our program has contracts with the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics and VA Medical Center in Iowa City, IA; the University of Missouri Health System and Boyce & Bynam Pathology Labs in Columbia, MO along with St. Francis Medical Center and Stormont-Vail Medical Center in Topeka, KS to provide affiliate clinical sites for students from those states.
