Health Sciences

Supervised professional work experience as an intern for Poetry Northwest, a literary magazine with international distribution. Students gain practical experience in all aspects of layout and production of a print magazine and development of eReader and interactive web versions. Must have completed most of the required coursework for a graphics degree. Performance will be evaluated by the graphics instructor in conjunction with the editor of Poetry Northwest. Prerequisites: Instructor permission.

See Emergency Services Health Sciences program offerings include certificate and degree options in Medical Assisting, as well as certificates in Phlebotomy Technician, Healthcare Risk Management and Medical Spanish Interpreter. Additionally, a range of Health Science courses are offered for general interest and/or prerequisites for Nursing, Physical Therapy Assistant, Radiology Technology and other health care professions.

Satisfies the mandatory seven-hour HIV/AIDS educational requirement of the State of Washington for health care professionals. Topics include transmission, disease process, and current treatment options for HIV/AIDS. Testing and counseling guidelines and requirements are also discussed. Additionally, legal, ethical and psychosocial issues are addressed.

Study of medical terminology, relating terms to the anatomy and physiology of the body. This course is designed for students working toward proficiency in medical language as well as for students entering health occupations, such as medical assistants, medical transcriptionists, receptionists, administrative support, and billing specialists.

Study of medical terminology, relating to terms to the anatomy and physiology of the body and its systems. This course is designed for the student interested in health sciences professions and the language associated with those professions. Prerequisites: Eligibility for ENGL 98.

Emphasizes the relationship between the structures of the human body, related functions, and clinical applications in both healthy and unhealthy states. Concepts of homeostasis will be explored, along with the consequences to the human body when homeostasis is disrupted. Familiarity with medical terminology is desired. No prior knowledge of biology or chemistry is required.

Overview of current healthcare professions including career and market information. Provides information on healthcare delivery systems, medical insurance, health organization structure, patient rights and quality care, healthcare and life values, ethics, and essential behaviors in the workplace. Personal healthful living practices, OSHA standards and workplace safety, and interpersonal communications will be examined as well. Prerequisites: Completion of ENGL 97 or placement into ENGL 98.

Offers a systems perspective to provide students with opportunities for analysis, synthesis, and application of critical inquiry, reflective thinking and decision making within healthcare.

Covers general medical office management, including medical records management, mail processing, scheduling appointments, managing the physician’s professional schedule, developing office policies and procedures, and providing information to patients related to community resources and health education. Prerequisites: HLTH 100 with a grade of C or higher. ENGL& 101, BUS 130 or MATH 76 or any math course numbered 86 or higher

Provides the student with opportunity to practice computer applications as they apply to the medical office. The student will use the fundamental writing skills to format letters, memos, and reports. Additionally, the student will demonstrate correct proofreading skills, will learn use of additional office equipment, including fax machines and multi-line phones, and will use correct medical charting methods to document medical information accurately and concisely. Prerequisites: HLTH 100 with a grade of C or higher. ENGL& 101, BUS 130 or MATH 76 or any math course numbered 86 or higher.

Covers all aspects of medical practice finances, including bookkeeping systems, third-party billing, coding systems, accounting and banking procedures, and employee payroll. Students will gain knowledge and skills related to managing medical practice finances and will have practical experience using computer software to perform the management functions integral to an ambulatory care facility. Prerequisites: HLTH 100 with a grade of C or higher. ENGL& 101, BUS 130 or MATH 76 or any math course numbered 86 or higher.

Overview of the disease processes of major conditions, including infectious diseases, major neoplastic conditions, and major congenital diseases. The focus is on human diseases that are first diagnosed in the clinical setting. The etiology, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of each disease are studied. Primary prevention of the disease is also discussed. Prerequisites: HLTH 102 or equivalent

Focus is on emergency care education, the ability to perform patient assessments, and treat lifethreatening conditions. Identifying the need for emergency preparedness, by performing and developing various emergency, environmental, and disaster plans. Prerequisites: Valid CPR card American Heart Association BLS Provider, “Heartcode” BLS Course or Military Health Network Course)

Reviews key elements and requirements of a safety and health management program in today’s manufacturing environment. This is part of a sequence of courses designed to help a student achieve a two-year ATA degree in Advanced Manufacturing Technology. Prerequisites: ENGL 98 or equivalent or instructor permission.

(D, R) Introduction to intercultural interpersonal communication techniques as they apply in a healthcare setting. Focuses on the roles of verbal and nonverbal codes in the development of intercultural interpersonal relationships, explains cultural competence and its implications within the healthcare delivery system, discusses obstacles to intercultural communication, examines role behaviors and attitudes regarding healthcare and describes communication with people who have altered health states. Prerequisites: Successful completion of ENGL& 101 with grade of C or higher.

Provides a framework for understanding the role of the professional Spanish/English medical interpreter which includes medical interpreting standards of practice, ethics, and cultural advocacy. Skill development includes a range of interpreting tasks as well as medical vocabulary, phraseology, and expressions necessary to interpret the most common medical signs, symptoms, and treatment-related terminology used during patient-provider interactions. Prerequisites: Completion of HLTH 100 with grade of C or higher or concurrent enrollment. Native-like fluency in Spanish and English will be evaluated by the instructor the first week of class.

Health Care Service Learning combines the opportunity of volunteerism with academic applications of health care, economic, and ethical issues important to the local community. Provides for real-life application of skills and knowledge that extends learning beyond the classroom and into the community. A maximum of six credits may be earned. Prerequisites: Completion of ENGL 98 or ESL 98 or IELP 98 with a grade of C or higher or eligibility for ENGL& 101; and instructor permission.

Develops the skills needed to perform the duties of the medical assistant. Areas include sterile techniques, OSHA requirements, equipment preparation, identification and sterilization, pre-surgical procedures, decontamination after surgery, wound care management, orthopedic and rehabilitation needs, assisting with minor office procedures, radiologic and diagnostic imaging procedures, and preparation for patient education. Instructor’s permission required to repeat course. Prerequisites: ENGL& 101 AND BUS 130 or MATH 76 or higher, AND HLTH 100, AND HLTH 106 or HLTH 107 or HLTH 108.

This course is designed to develop the skills needed to perform duties of a medical assistant in the laboratory of a general outpatient medical practice. The student will learn the concepts of laboratory safety, quality assurance, microbiological features of various pathogenic and nonpathogenic microbes, transmission based precautions, laboratory techniques for specimen collection, specimen handling and processing. Students will acquire skills and techniques utilized to support and enhance the physician’s diagnostic procedures and treatment options. Students will develop their critical thinking skills by participating in simulated laboratory exercises, simulated patient care via written formats and simulated laboratory results evaluation and processing. Instructor permission required to repeat course. Prerequisites: ENGL& 101 AND BUS 130 or MATH 76 or higher, AND HLTH 100, AND HLTH 106 or HLTH 107 or HLTH 108.

Gross human anatomy as it applies to physical therapy. Muscle, tendon, ligament, and nerve innervation of the trunk and upper extremity, head, neck, and lower extremity. Structural identification and function of the spine, heart, lungs, abdominopelvic organs, circulatory and sensory systems. Neuroanatomy of the nervous system, emphasizing structure and functional relationships. Relates the structural relationships of the central and peripheral nervous systems to brain dysfunction and pathology. Prerequisites: HLTH 102

Designed to incorporate the principles of critical thinking, the course will focus on pertinent laws at the federal and state levels, examining their application to the clinical practice including: confidentiality, HIPPA regulations, release of patient information, licensure, medical malpractice, and risk management. Examination of current bioethical issues and their impact on the practice of medicine. Prerequisites: Successful completion of ENGL& 101.

Introduction to the concept of risk management in the healthcare setting, including a historical perspective on the development of healthcare risk management, the role of a risk manager, and compliance with federal and local agencies in various healthcare settings. Prerequisites: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in ENGL 98 or above.

Overview of applicable federal, state and local health and safety laws relevant to the practice of healthcare risk management and patient safety, including occupational and environmental risk exposures, accident prevention, and emergency management. Prerequisites: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in ENGL 98 or above.