Health Sciences

Fall, Summer
As a study of the professional language of medicine, this course includes description, interpretation, the building and spelling of medical terms that relate to human anatomy and physiology, health care related diagnostic testing, medical procedures, and various modes of treatment.  The course correlates a basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology.  This course is a foundation course that allows the student to be able to communicate with medical language in other health science courses and prepares the graduate to communicate effectively in the health care arena.

Fall
This course is designed to give first semester students who are pursuing a career in health care a solid foundation of planning and professionalism to successfully complete their education and career goals. This course will also help them become engaged members of the College and professional community.  Students will be involved in career exploration, setting real-world goals with academic planning and resume building, learning the tools available for their academic success, and the professionalism needed to carry them forward into the academic world and the job market. This course is taught by Health Care professionals and includes guest speakers from several health care disciplines.

Spring
This course is second in a two-course sequence. International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10-CM) and Procedure Coding System (CPT), the procedural portion of the ICD-10 system. Principles, guidelines, definitions, and coding conventions for using ICD-10-PCS to code procedures in an inpatient setting are introduced. Students will be provided with the comprehensive training necessary to accurately dissect operative reports and build codes in ICD-10-PCS. This course will include detailed discussion of the anatomy and code structure for each of the body systems and related sections of ICD-10-PCS. Health records, manual and computerized coding methods, and coding references will be utilized in the coding process.

This course introduces the student to medical terminology and human anatomy and physiology. Body systems and related terminology are discussed in a primary learning level. Related disease processes, diagnostic procedures, therapeutic measures, and appropriate abbreviations and acronyms are included. This is a basic foundational course for students entering the field of health care, both clinical and administrative.
 

Skill development in the performance of a variety of blood collection methods using proper techniques and standard precautions. Includes vacuum collection devices, syringes, capillary skin puncture, butterfly needles and blood culture, and specimen collection on adults, children, and infants. Emphasis on infection prevention, patient identification, specimen labeling, quality assurance, specimen handling, processing, professionalism, ethics, and medical terminology. This course will prepare students for the phlebotomy certification exam.

Students will also learn the skills necessary to obtain quality 12 lead electrocardiograms (ECG) in a variety of medical settings. A blended course including both theory and hands-on instruction. This course will also assist students in preparing for the ECG certification exam. This course is designed to meet the needs of students with the ability to interpret both normal and abnormal ECG, as well as provide an overview of heart anatomy and function. Instruction will be provided on proper use of medical equipment and supplies related to maintaining a safe patient environment.

Spring
This course presents the theoretical concepts of health information management and performance in the medical office setting. Topics presented include the creation and maintenance of health records and the legal and ethical responsibilities of medical personnel who work in the health information management department. AHIMA and HIPPA regulations are integrated throughout the course. Presented are the various systems available including electronic record keeping. Procedures for maintaining records, methods of numbering, filing and compiling statistics and reports are presented. Included in the course are theory and practice of working in and managing the medical office. Workshops provide a simulated office setting, giving the student practice in diverse medical office procedures. The course is taught in a computer lab to allow students continuous access to electronic record keeping and retrieval programs. Students must have a working knowledge of basic computer applications. MS Word, MS PPT and document storage and retrieval will be the main applications utilized for instruction. Access to the internet, as well as site navigation, will also be necessary.
 

Spring
This course focuses on the skills needed for entry level practice as a medical assistant in physicians' offices, outpatient care centers, medical clinics, ambulatory surgical settings and hospitals.  The course addresses professional communication concepts, interpersonal skills, critical thinking, documentation, confidentiality and cutting edge technology, such as electronic health records, necessary for the present day medical assistant.  HIPAA laws as mandated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are integrated throughout the course.  In utilizing the classroom setting, this class presents a structured setting to cultivate the administrative skills needed by the medical assistant in the health care arena.  Students will have the opportunity to practice skills with supervision in the clinical laboratory in order to achieve competency.
 

Fall, Spring
Operational Health Informatics offers the student an overview of the field of health informatics and basic computer skills by providing the fundamental concepts of health informatics and how technology is used in the delivery of health care. The course is intended to increase the knowledge and skills of the allied health worker related to the configuration, use, and maintenance of informatics interventions that will evaluate and improve health care delivery.
 

The purpose of this course is to give the student a working knowledge of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and to educate them on bloodborne pathogen safety as well as other important OSHA standards relative to infection control for health care workers. Students will be instructed on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) related to disease transmission as well as infection control concepts and strategies for preventing occupational exposure. This course also focuses on patient safety and provides the student with instruction on body mechanics, patient transfer, restraints, and fall precautions.  Instruction will be provided on the proper use of medical equipment and supplies related to maintaining a safe patient environment. Student will also be educated on how to respond to emergency situations during this course.
 

Fall, Summer
This course introduces the student to basic human anatomy and physiology. All systems are discussed at a primary learning level. Included is clinical application of related disease processes and diagnostic procedures and therapeutic measures. This is a foundation course for concurrent and upper level courses.

Spring
This course introduces drug therapy with an emphasis on drug classification and administration safety. It includes drug actions related to body systems, side effects, and adverse reactions. It also introduces the basic concepts of mathematics used in the calculation of drug dosage and the proper administration procedures. Topics include introduction to pharmacology, calculation of dosages, sources and forms of drugs, drug preparation and administration, drug classification, and drug effects of the body system.
 

As Needed
This course emphasizes drug therapy as an integral part of health care. Students will develop a theoretical knowledge-base of major drug classifications and be able to relate this knowledge to the pharmacologic aspects of client/patient care. This study of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics assists in analyzing patient responses to drug therapy.

Spring
This is an introductory course designed to provide students with an overview of the clinical skills and methods required for employment as a medical assistant. Students will gain experience assisting physicians and other healthcare providers to perform patient centered assessment, examination, intervention and treatment. Emphasis will be placed upon both clinical theory and skills. Beginning skills for the medical assistant will be presented. Communication skills and professional behavior, OSHA standards, infection control, documentation, basic first aid and numerous medical office procedures will be taught. Students will have the opportunity to practice skills with supervision in the clinical laboratory in order to achieve competency.
 

This course is designed to prepare students with the basic knowledge of patient health assessment. Students who successfully complete this course will be able to provide vital patient care under the direct supervision of a nurse or physician. This course will provide instruction on how to assess vital signs and measurements, how to care for catheters, how to provide oxygen therapy, as well as how to perform ECGs and phlebotomy procedures. Students will learn about the supplies and equipment needed to assist with basic patient care needs such as bathing, toileting, and other activities of daily living (ADL). This course also provides first aid and CPR training.  It is important that students have the opportunity to apply the knowledge learned in this course; therefore, students will be expected to participate in role play, simulation skills, and hands-on practice activities during class time.
 

This course is a credit worthy clinical experience that will provide the students with the ability to transfer knowledge and skill sets from the classroom to the clinical setting through direct patient care in the acute care setting environment. Students will be supervised by a qualified instructor that has had recent clinical experience in the acute care setting.

Fall
Electronic Health Records introduction course curriculum covers content structure, management, analysis, and processing of patient records, while reinforcing the importance of quality, patient privacy, and legal compliance. Along with this is introduce basic concepts of use and maintenance of an Electronic Health Records (EHR) system and provides exposure to basic navigation of an EHR.

Spring
The student is introduced to a variety of issues facing health care personnel including legal situations involving health law, functioning within the constraints of applicable law and current challenges facing health care providers. Presented are aspects of medical malpractice, the regulatory environment, contract law, civil versus criminal law and the judicial system. There is an overview of health care ethics with discussion of such issues as the right to life, wrongful life, right to die, euthanasia, anatomical gift legislation, stem cell research and genetic engineering, as well as other ethical issues facing health care workers.
 

As Needed
This nonclinical course examines the components of critical thinking, decision making, logic, ethico-legal principles and regulations, and handling difficult situations in the health care environment. The learner clarifies personal values, cultural perspectives, and gains increased appreciation for human uniqueness, autonomy, and freedom of choice.

Fall
This course will introduce the student to the ICD-10-CM classification of symptoms, conditions and diseases according to the International Classification of Disease Clinical Modification. The diagnosis and procedure coding course is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of fundamental concepts of medical reimbursement and health information management systems; focusing on the process of assigning appropriate code numbers to medical diagnoses and procedures to meet patient health record and insurance billing requirements. Emphasis will be placed on coding outpatient medical records.
 

Fall
Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) is a listing of descriptive terms and identifying codes for reporting medical services and procedures performed by physicians. The terminology provides a uniform language that accurately describes medical, surgical, and diagnostic services and thereby provides an effective means for reliable nationwide communication among physicians, patients, and third parties. This course introduces the student to this language (terminology) and challenges them to integrate the knowledge into the medical chart and therefore document necessity of payment for the appropriate medical service and/or procedure.
 

Spring
CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) codes, ICD-10 (Internal Classification of Diseases) and HCPCS codes are fully integrated to enhance the student's depth of knowledge. This course will focus on bringing all aspects of coding together and provide the student with a simulated coding internship, preparing them to sit for the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam.  Real world chart analysis (abstracting) will be the focus that will provide the student with skill advantage over other medical coders.
 

Fall
This course provides an overview of the disease processes and introduces students to how the disease is diagnosed, managed, along with any possible consequences. Major disease entities, including etiology and symptoms that are presented. Overview of basic diagnostic tests and treatments that include both medical and pharmacologic options. This course will not only cover traditional but alternative therapies as well. This course will include a virtual component enhancing the students understanding of the concepts associated with basic diseases of each body system as well as up to date treatment modalities.
 

Fall
This course builds upon the concepts in HSC 121 Medical Assisting Administrative I, while introducing advanced administrative skills. All aspects of financial management concepts, including insurance, billing and collections are presented and practiced. A comparison of electronic and manual systems will be explained and demonstrated. Confidentiality and other current laws, as they apply to collections, will be integrated throughout the course. Concepts of office management and human resources are included. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to enter the medical assistant field with confidence in their administrative skills. Students will have the opportunity to practice skills with supervision in the clinical laboratory in order to achieve competency.
 

Fall
This course builds upon the concepts in HSC 150 Medical Assisting Clinical I while introducing advanced clinical skills. More complex and independent procedures performed by the medical assistant are presented in addition to surgical procedures, physical therapy, principles of diagnostic imaging, and emergency procedures. Included are safety in the laboratory, government regulations, quality assurance, and microscopic procedures and analysis. The student will be involved in rehabilitation, modes of therapy and medication administration. The student is challenged to think critically in various clinical situations. Assessment of health education needs for patients and family is integrated throughout this course. This course offers skill development in the performance of a variety of blood collection methods using proper techniques and universal precautions. There is an emphasis on infection prevention, proper identification, labeling of specimens, specimen handling, and processing. Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to enter the medical assistant field with confidence in their clinical skills.
 

As Needed
Nutrition plays a vital role in maintaining good health and preventing chronic disease. Nutritional therapy in clinical situations is an adaptation of the principles of normal nutrition. Proper application of these principles can maximize restoration of health. This course introduces the nursing student to the fundamentals of medical nutrition therapy with direct application to the nursing process. The course provides an introduction of human nutrition including nutritional requirements, metabolism, and nutritional biochemistry. Nutritional needs and problems across the lifespan are addressed. Nutritional therapeutics for specific disease states are thoroughly examined.

This course provides information about the financial aspects of Managed Care in the current health care arena. Included are presentations of the major private sector and governmental health insurances. Operational aspects of financial management in the outpatient and inpatient settings are integrated throughout the course. The methodology of account billing and collections is presented. The necessary regulatory requirements that govern practice management and their impact on health care is stressed.
 

Spring
This class provides the knowledge of the revenue cycle and financial management process in healthcare billing which includes all steps taken in each phase of the cycle and financial aspect of healthcare billing. Included are presentations of the major private sector and governmental health insurances. The methodology of revenue cycle from start to finish is presented. Operational management in the outpatient and inpatient settings are integrated in this course.

Spring
This is a 4-credit self-directed practicum where the medical coding and billing specialist student will have the opportunity to learn to become proficient in the field of medical coding and billing. The student will learn by way of conversational language and step-by-step instruction to abstract information from medical charts, code it for the proper reimbursement and bill it by completing the right documents and forms. The preparatory courses that lead to the practicum prepare the student with the knowledge and tools to complete the self-directed practicum with confidence and expertise. A HIPAA training course with presentation of a certificate of completion is also part of this course. This is considered a capstone course as it is reflective of and utilizes learning from all courses taken throughout the course of the degree earned.
 

Spring
This course is a one credit capstone course. This capstone course is an opportunity for students to demonstrate that they have achieved the outcomes of the medical assisting technology program. This course is designed to assess cognitive, affective and psychomotor learning and to do so in a student-centered and student-directed manner which requires the command, analysis and synthesis of knowledge and skills. It integrates learning from the courses in the major with the courses from the rest of the academic experience. It requires the application of that learning to a project which serves as an instrument of evaluation. This course will prepare the student to leave the academic world and enter into the real world as a medical assistant, the most versatile member of any medical staff.
 

Spring
This course is a credit-worthy work opportunity for students to gain experience in their major areas of study by strengthening and expanding their classroom theoretical knowledge through practical application. This course provides the Medical Assisting Technology student with reality training in the field of health care with an emphasis on medical office skills and clinical practice. Students will be mentored by an experienced supervisor in the agency setting. Satisfactory completion of this experience is required for the completion of the AAS degree in Medical Assisting Technology.