2007-2008 Academic Catalog

Course descriptions


Course descriptions index


Health

HLTH 100     3 Credits
Medical Terminology
Study of medical terminology including analysis and origin of word roots, prefixes and suffixes. Understanding the word components, students will be able to build, spell and define medical words. Content will be presented by body systems focusing on terms for anatomy, diagnostic, laboratory and medical specialties. Includes use of medical dictionary, word pronunciation and abbreviations. Designed for health care professionals. (3 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


HLTH 101     1 Credit
CNR--Normal Nutrition Counseling
First in a series of four courses examines basic applied nutrition and counseling techniques. Counseling opportunities are provided to allow students to practice skills learned in the classroom.


HLTH 102     1 Credit
CNR--Therapeutic Nutrition Counseling
Second in a series of four courses examines basic therapeutic knowledge and nutrition counseling techniques. Counseling opportunities are provided to allow students to practice skills learned in the classroom. Offered at the Kuskokwim Campus only. (Prerequisite: HLTH 101 or permission of instructor.) (1 + 1) Offered As Demand Warrants


HLTH 103     1 Credit
CNR--Nutrition Education and Food Preservation
Third in a series of four courses examines methods for planning and presenting group nutrition education talks and food preservation methods. (Prerequisite: HLTH 102 or permission of instructor.) (1 + 1) Offered As Demand Warrants


HLTH 104     1 Credit
CNR--Community Resources and Problem Solving
Fourth in a series of four courses examines community nutrition resources and methods for community nutrition problem-solving. (Prerequisite: HLTH 103 or permission of instructor.) (1 + 1) Offered As Demand Warrants


HLTH 105     2 Credits
Introduction to Health Careers
Introduction to health careers and the psychology of patient care. Roles and responsibilities of different members/functional units of the health care team; information on related job and educational opportunities; needs and roles of health providers in rural and urban Alaska settings. (Prerequisite: High school graduation, GED, or permission of program coordinator.) (2 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


HLTH 106     3 Credits
Human Behavior in Health Care (s)
Discussion of general concepts in human behavior and the specialized psychological issues when dealing with patients and loved ones in health care settings. Students perform self-evaluation and survey other cultures to allow examination of perceptions, individual biases, beliefs and their impacts on behavior. (3 + 0) Offered Fall, Spring


HLTH 107     9 Credits
Nurse Aid Training
Basic nursing skills necessary to assist the nurse and be an efficient health care team member. Presents positive communication skills while providing care of residents' physical and emotional needs in a variety of health care settings. Content satisfies the theory and skills needed to take the state of Alaska exam to become a certified nurse aid. (Prerequisites: High school graduation, GED, and 10th grade reading level by exam. Student must be in good physical condition and have current immunizations or permission of instructor.) (5 + 8) Offered Fall, Spring


HLTH 110     2 Credits
Professional Skills for the Workplace
Presents skills to ensure success for the professional secretary, receptionist, medical worker and others. Includes interview skills, business manners, customer service and dressing for success. (2 + 0) Offered Fall, Spring


HLTH 111     4 Credits
Personal Care Attendant Training
Designed to train personal care attendants in basic care necessary to assist nurses and to be efficient health care team members. It qualifies students for state certificate of completion as personal care attendants. Eighty-eight (88) hours of class, lab and clinical practice is included. Requires criminal background check. (Prerequisites: Proof of immunity to chicken pox, MMR and Hepatitis B, negative PPD within the last year, high school graduation or GED, or 10th grade reading level by exam. Students must be in good physical condition. Co-requisite: Health care provider CPR and First Aid card.) (2.5 + 3) Offered Fall, Spring


HLTH 112     3 Credits
Anatomy, Physiology and Medical Language
Foundation knowledge of human anatomy and physiology of the ten body systems and their organs. Focus on learning the anatomy word roots, combining forms, and common medical prefixes and suffixes. Presents a word components as a method to understand and define medical words including diagnostic, laboratory and medical specialities. (3 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


HLTH 113     5 Credits
Personal Care Attendant to Nursing Assistant Bridge
Trains personal care attendants to become Certified Nurse Assistants. Students build upon basic PCA skills and experience. Provides the additional classroom, laboratory and clinical hours necessary to sit for the state Certified Nurse Assistant exam. (Prerequisites: High school graduation or GED and a 10th grade reading level by exam. HLTH 111, or on the job agency training plus two years experience and instructor approval. Students must be in good physical condition, have current immunizations, and healthcare provider CPR card.) (3 + 4) Offered As Demand Warrants


HLTH 114     4 Credits
Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology
Provides a basic understanding of human anatomy and physiology. Recommended for individuals interested in health careers or students desiring an introduction to anatomy and physiology prior to taking in-depth course work in this field. (Prerequisites recommended: HLTH 100, high school biology and chemistry.) (3 + 3) Offered Spring


HLTH 116     3 Credits
Mathematics in Health Care
Practical application of mathematics in health care, including arithmetic review, percent, interest, ratio, proportion, dimensional analysis, metric system, medication calculation, graphs, charts and measurement instruments. (Prerequisites: DEVM 050 or placement in DEVM 060 or higher.) (3 + 0) Offered Spring


HLTH 118     2 Credits
Medical Law and Ethics
In-depth coverage of legal and ethical issues encountered in health care settings. Students will gain a practical knowledge of legal and ethical principles and application of these principles in health care settings. (2 + 0) Offered Fall


HLTH 120     1 Credit
Industrial First Aid
Includes CPR training, control of bleeding and shock, recognizing heart problems, stroke, poisoning, sugar diabetes, epileptic seizures and dealing with major trauma injuries such as fractures, head, neck and back injuries. Also covered are hypothermia, frostbite and cold water near-drowning. Upon satisfactory completion of course, students will receive a Mines Safety Health Administration Certificate, a State Industrial First Aid Card and the American Heart Association CPR card. (1 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


HLTH 122     1 Credit
First Aid and CPR
Provides instruction on emergency first aid theory and techniques. Students acquire knowledge and skills necessary for dealing with emergencies in a medical/dental office and other clinical settings. Includes First Aid Certification and health care provider (adult, child and infant) CPR Certification. (.5 + 1) Offered Fall, Spring


HLTH 132     2 Credits
Administrative Procedures I
Administrative responsibilities performed by medical/dental assistants and other health care providers in outpatient facilities. Includes duties of the office assistant, receptionist or secretary. Focus on reception, telephone procedures, public relations and professionalism. (Prerequisites: High school graduation, GED or permission of instructor.) (2 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


HLTH 135     3 Credits
ICD-9 Coding
In-depth study of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), designed for classification of patient morbidity and mortality information for statistical purposes and for the indexing of health records for the health care profession. (Prerequisites: HLTH 112, or both HLTH 114 and HLTH 100.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall


HLTH 142     4 Credits
Clinical Procedures I
Introduction to the theoretical basis and performance competencies for the clinical duties performed by medical assistants in outpatient facilities. Includes care of patients in the examining room, use and care of medical instruments and supplies, assisting physicians with clinical procedures, administering medications and introduction to clinical laboratory procedures. Materials fee: $50. (Prerequisites: HLTH 100 and HLTH 116. Co-requisite: HLTH 114 or BIOL 100X or permission of program coordinator.) (3 + 2) Offered Spring, As Demand Warrants


HLTH 150     4 Credits
Dental Radiography
Dental radiography includes safety in exposing, processing and mounting dental radiographs. Presents hazardous materials handling, equipment operation and maintenance. Prepares students for the Dental Assisting National Board's radiology health and safety examination. Materials fee: $125. (3 + 3) Offered Fall, Spring


HLTH 151     2 Credits
Dental Infection Control
Principles and practices of infection control in the dental office. Includes knowledge of disease, microbiology, transmission prevention and methods of compliance with OSHA and CDC regulations. Prepares students for the Dental Assisting National Boards infection control examination. (2 + 0) Offered Spring


HLTH 152     4 Credits
Dental Materials and Applications
Physical and chemical properties of restorative dental materials and the application of those materials. Includes properties and manipulation of gypsum material, impression materials and custom trays, basic crown and bridge procedures. Materials fee: $125. (Prerequisite/Co-requisite: HLTH 251.) (2 + 4) Offered Fall


HLTH 153     3 Credits
Anatomy for Dental Assistants
Study of anatomy as it applies to the field of dental assisting. Includes basic body systems and an in-depth examination of dental embryology, histology, morphology and head/neck anatomy. (3 + 0) Offered Spring


HLTH 203     3 Credits
Science of Nutrition
Introduction to the principles of nutrition and its relationship to the life cycle. Focus on the importance nutrition plays in personal health and how to objectively evaluate nutritional intake using scientifically sound resources. Also available via Independent Learning. (3 + 0) Offered Fall, Spring


HLTH 208     3 Credits
Human Diseases
Introduction to the study of human diseases. Pathogenesis, etiology and predisposing factors will be examined. The most common diseases and disorders of each body system are presented along with a review of the pertinent anatomy and physiology. Includes the effects of aging on the system and the relationship of aging to disease. Web-based course. (Prerequisites: HLTH 100 and 114, or HLTH 112.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall, As Demand Warrants


HLTH 234     4 Credits
Administrative Procedures II
Office management and financial procedures used in medical offices. Includes medical financial recordkeeping systems and computerized office management systems. Includes ICD-9, CPT and coding systems, patient insurance billing/reimbursement procedures, the demonstration of computational skills in accounts payable/accounts receivable, and office management in the health care setting. (Prerequisites: CIOS 150, HLTH 100 and 132; test scores sufficient for placement in ENGL 111X or permission of instructor.) (3 + 2) Offered Fall, Spring


HLTH 235     4 Credits
Medical Coding
The current procedural terminology (CPT) and the international classification of diseases (ICD) systems used in the medical setting. Examines the medical and legal uses of the CPT and ICT code systems in inpatient and outpatient medical settings, urgent care settings, billing departments and ancillary medical professions. Prepares students to take national certification exams. (Recommended: HLTH 100, 132, 208 and 234.) (4 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


HLTH 236     3 Credits
Outpatient Health Care Reimbursement
Outpatient reimbursement issues including documentation, insurance carriers, schedules and payment profiles. Collection strategies and legal issues, and the importance of educating the patient to the financial polices of the practice. (Prerequisites: HLTH 132 and concurrent 234; or permission of instructor.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall, Spring


HLTH 237     3 Credits
Inpatient Health Care Reimbursement
Rules and regulations governing the reimbursement of inpatient and hospital coding. Includes HIPPA regulations, Medicare, Medicaid, third party billing, and the legal and ethical guidelines of inpatient billing. (Prerequisites: HLTH 132, 135 and 234; or permission of instructor.) (3 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


HLTH 244     4 Credits
Clinical Procedures II
Theoretical basis and performance competencies for the clinical duties performed by medical assistants in outpatient facilities. Includes urinalysis, electrocardiograph, subcutaneous and intramuscular injections, routine laboratory procedures, venipuncture, emergencies and assisting with specialty examinations. Materials fee: $50. (Prerequisites: HLTH 100, 116, 142, 122 and either HLTH 114 or BIOL 100X.) (3 + 2) Offered Fall, As Demand Warrants


HLTH 245     3 Credits
Phlebotomy Principles and Methods
Proper blood collection and handling techniques, function of the circulatory system, quality control in the medical laboratory, universal precautions, asepsis and disinfection, OSHA regulations, basic laboratory testing and microbiology concepts will be addressed. Completion of this course, followed by completion of the phlebotomy externship, HLTH 265, prepares students for the national ASCP phlebotomy technician certification exam. Materials fee: $65. (Prerequisites: Documentation of positive antibody titer for hepatitis B; current immunization to measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis A, varicella, and tetanus; negative TB test within the past year.) (2.5 + 1) Offered Fall, Spring


HLTH 247     2 Credits
Introduction to Pharmacology
Introduction to the use of therapeutic medications in medical settings. Includes classifications of drugs, clinical use and adverse effects of the 50 most commonly prescribed medications. (Prerequisites: HLTH 100 and 114 or BIOL 100X.) (2 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


HLTH 251     6 Credits
Clinical Chairside I for Dental Assistants
Introduction to dental assisting. Beginning skills necessary to function as a chairside dental assistant in a general dentistry practice. Emphasis on developing clinical skills in four-handed dentistry techniques. Materials fee: $45. (Prerequisites: Permission of program coordinator.) (3 + 6) Offered Fall


HLTH 252     6 Credits
Clinical Chairside II for Dental Assistants
Emphasize advanced dental assisting skills necessary in general dentistry. Includes taking impressions for study models, radiography, matrix assembly, rubber dam application, assisting with the administration of local anesthetics, temporary crowns, oral health and nutrition. Includes introduction to specialty practices. Materials fee: $45. (Prerequisites: HLTH 251.) (3 + 6) Offered Spring


HLTH 253     3 Credits
Clinical Chairside III for Dental Assistants
Continued learning in the dental specialities including prosthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, pedodontics, orthodontics, and oral and maxillofacial surgery. Materials fee: $45. (Prerequisites: HLTH 251 and 252, and permission of program coordinator.) (2 + 2) Offered Fall


HLTH 254     4 Credits
Dental Assistant Practicum
Clinical, off-campus course for dental assisting students. Placement in general and specialty dental offices under direct supervision by participating dentist and program faculty. Includes seminars to discuss progress and experiences. Materials fee: $45. (Prerequisites: HLTH 122, 132, 150, 152, 153, 234, 251, 252 and 253. Enrollment by special permission only. Graded pass/fail.) (1 + 0 + 20) Offered As Demand Warrants


HLTH 265     3 Credits
Phlebotomy Externship
Clinical experience in phlebotomy and lab assisting. Requires 120 hours of hands-on experience in the clinical setting and eight hours in extern seminars. Progress is assessed by work supervisor and externship coordinator. Satisfies the clinical externship requirement for certification as a phlebotomist by the American Society of Clinical Pathology. (Prerequisite: HLTH 245. Enrollment by special permission only.) (0 + 8.5 + .5-1) Offered As Demand Warrants


HLTH 267     2-4 Credits
Medical Assisting Externship Completion
Provides 80-160 hours of hands-on practicum work for students who have previously completed one or more externships. Additional contact time required for meeting with the campus externship coordinator and participation in externship seminars. Hours and credits required are determined based on individual students' previous externship experiences. Substitutes for HLTH 268 for students who have successfully completed one or more certificates within the program. (Prerequisite: Enrollment by special permission only.) (1 + 5 + 12) Offered Fall, As Demand Warrants


HLTH 268     4 Credits
Medical Assisting Externship
Provides the student with 180 hours of hands-on practicum work, with additional time required for meeting with the campus externship coordinator and participation in externship seminars. This is the last course in the medical assistant A.A.S. degree program for students who have not taken any specialized certificate externships during their course of study. Students will be expected to perform any and all duties of a medical assistant in a health care setting. (Prerequisite: Enrollment by special permission only.) (0 + 0+ 12) Offered As Demand Warrants