Keep PCC lab students in labs
I’m a medical lab student at Portland Community College. MLTs perform medical tests, (including testing for Covid!!!!!!!). College administration has decided to cancel all in person instruction, including off campus clinical rotations at hospitals. I was set to graduate spring 2021 but as it stands I may not be able to graduate until 2022. Preventing new techs from entering the workforce during a catastrophic pandemic is incredibly short sighted. This decision was made without consulting any of the instructors in the health fields.
Hands on experience is essential for myself and my fellow students to be able to work safely and provide accurate patient results. Safety was emphasized at the very outset of our program, even before the pandemic hit. We are uniquely qualified to learn in these “unprecedented times”, always utilizing the proper ppe and safe work practices even when there isn’t a global pandemic. Our instructors had plans to minimize class size to ensure our safety. They would not be willing to teach us in person if they did not believe that we were able to learn safely with minimal risk of exposure.
Please just take a moment to sign this petition and share my post. I know that petitions are not the most effective tool for change, but showing administration that we have broad support can help sway their decision to reinstate limited in person instruction.
tldr: I want to be a medical lab tech so I can perform medical tests, such as testing for COVID, but my college administration is delaying my graduation by canceling in person instruction
