Melissa Edington
Administrator
Danville Polyclinic

Melissa Edington grew up and went to high school in Urbana, Illinois. While she was still in high school, she attended a health fair at Danville Area Community College with her Aunt, who then worked for the Vermilion County Health Department. At the Fair, Melissa picked up an application for the Lab school that was then held at the former St. Elizabeth Hospital. This was the beginning of her journey in the health care career field. While in school, Melissa loved math and science. Lab training seemed to be a natural progression of her passion for those subjects.

While in school to be a Clinical Laboratory Technologist, Melissa was trained in all departments of the laboratory. By the age of 19 she was the Lab Supervisor of second shift. She was responsible for lab testing for patients on all hospital floors and departments. She performed testing in hematology, blood bank, chemistry, blood gases, EKGs, and serology.

After seven years, Melissa left her career for four years to begin her family. When she resumed her medical career, she took a job at Danville Polyclinic to work in the Urgent Care Department. Shortly after, she became the Supervisor of Urgent Care. Melissa's career pathway reflects a work ethic and passion for learning that is universal to most who have realized success and that is, "If you are willing to learn and do any job that needs done, you can go many places."

From Urgent Care, Melissa advanced to become the Director of Ancillary Services. Five years later she was promoted to Assistant Administrator (one of four Assistants at that time) and was eventually named Administrator of the clinic in 1995, where she has served in that capacity for the last 15 years.

Another common characteristic of success exemplified from Melissa's career progression is that of learning a business from the ground up. She says, "To be in health care management I think it really helps to have some basic healthcare knowledge. The experiences of working first-hand with patients, physicians and other healthcare employees is what gives you the edge to understand the different challenges they each face. Good administrators need to know how to make the healthcare setting run smoothly and effectively, so everyone else’s job is a little easier."

"My favorite part of the job is that I am learning new things every day. There are constant changes in health care regulations, technology, service delivery methods and all other aspects of the business." Her least favorite part of her management position is having to make difficult choices during economic downtimes that can adversely affect her employees. "Making difficult choices to keep any business viable is not pleasant, but making tough choices is a part of the position."

Melissa's advice to those in high school or college trying to chose a career or adults seeking a career change:

1. Research all of the opportunities. The lesser known or understood positions like Laboratory Technologist, Radiological Technologist, Physical Therapist or Physical Therapy Assistant, Ultrasonographer, Home Health Care Nurse or CNA, and many more technical and specialty areas hold a world of opportunity and need. Many of these pathways can be realized or at least begun at Danville Area Community College.
On the information side of the business, health care always needs good support in information technology, including electronic health records. Coders are still an important part of the health care process as well.

2. Don't limit yourself. If you want to work in a different aspect of the healthcare field, tell someone. Get the advice and the education you need to obtain the skill set necessary to do the job. Work hard, be open to change, and use every chance you can to learn more about your profession. It will help you to move yourself up the ladder.

3. What it takes to succeed in any career is self-motivation, a desire to learn, and a willingness to work well with others.

JUST THE FACTS...
CLINICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGIST AND TECHNICIANS
Bureau of Labor Statistics

• Excellent job opportunities are expected

• Clinical laboratory personnel examine and analyze body fluids and cells. They look for bacteria, parasites and other micro-organisms; analyze the chemical content; match blood for transfusions; and test for drug levels in the blood that show how a patient is responding to treatment.

• Clinical laboratory technicians perform less complex tests and laboratory procedures than technologists do. Technicians may prepare specimens and operate automated analyzers or may perform manual tests in accordance with detailed instructions. Clinical technicians may work in several areas of the clinical laboratory or specialize in just one. Phlebotomists collect blood samples; histotechnicians cut and stain tissue specimens for microscopic examination by pathologists, as an example.

• Clinical laboratory technologist usually have a bachelor's degree with a major in medical technology of in one of the life sciences; clinical laboratory technicians generally need either an associate degree or a certificate

• Most jobs will continue to be in hospitals, but employment will grow rapidly in other settings, as well.

Related Occupations include:
> Chemists and materials scientists
> Science technicians
> Veterinary technologists and technicians

Workforce Cluster Employers in Vermilion County with Medical Laboratory Technicians include:
Carle Physician Group
Christie Clinic
Danville Polyclinic
Hoopeston Regional Health Center
Provena United Samaritans Medical Center
Veterans' Administration - Illiana Health Care System

Training Available through Danville Area Community College for medical information and technical positions:
Ultrasonographer
Diagnostic Medical Sonography Certificate - 45 credit hours
Radiology Technologist
Radiologic technology AAS 71 credit hours
Coder
Medical Coding Certificate - 40 credit hours
Medical Coding Basics - 3 credit hours
Medical Insurance Billing - 3 credit hours
Health Information Technology - AAS 70 credit hours

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