Diagnostic Medicine ~ Fall 2016

Greenback Public School ~ Mrs. Kristin Ferguson, R.N.

Course Description: Diagnostic Medicine is a mid-levelcourse for the healthcare science pathway. Students who have successfully completed Introduction to Health Science may enroll. Emphasis is placed on diagnostic tests, which can assist medical professionals in creating a snapshot of an individual’s health status at a single point in time. Career fields related to this course include radiology, cardiology, speech pathology, respiratory therapy, audiology, optometry, laboratory and forensics, veterinary science and others. Through a series of individual tasks, group activities and hands-on learning, students learn the importance of goal setting, personal responsibility, problem solving, and critical thinking and employability skills while integrating core academic subjects. Students also have the opportunity to apply mathematics, writing, reading and technology skills in the scope of the health care industry. Opportunities to participate in skills competitions locally, regionally and nationally are provided by our career student organization, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA). Students also have the opportunity to participate in job shadowing opportunities and field trips if they continue in the Health Science Career Cluster.

Supplies Required:

3-ring binder with dividers, pencils, blue or black pens, & loose leaf paper (NO SPIRALS!) and a jump drive. Parents, your students MUST have access to the internet somewhere: at home, at a relative’s house, or your student needs to be able to visit the library computer lab before and after school. We will use internet-based research and assignments often.

Textbook Requirement:

There is not a specific textbook for this course. We will be using internet-based assignments, self-guided research and other textbook sources for this lecture content.

Topics to be covered:

  1. HIPPA
  2. Telehealth & Telemedicine
  3. History of Diagnostic Medicine
  4. Robotics in Healthcare
  5. Safety & Quality Control in the Diagnostic Setting
  6. Infection Control
  7. Radiology
  8. Clinical Laboratories
  9. Opthamology
  10. Specials: Cardiovascular, Gastrointestinal, Respiratory and Neurological Diagnostics
  11. **Medical terminology and Lab Skills will be taught throughout the course.

Classroom Expectations:

Students have already viewed a powerpoint on classroom expectations. The rules are simple:

  1. Be respectful of those around you and the materials we use in class. Being respectful to the teacher means being quiet and paying attention during lecture. I should not and will not ask the class to stop talking multiple times at the beginning of class. When the bell rings, class begins.
  2. No food or drinks or gum with the exception of a closed bottle of water –no cups and nothing other than water.
  3. No phones. Phones are to be turned OFF or on silent to eliminate the sounds of text messages, etc. A vibrating phone is NOT silent. Phones may be charged in my room in a designated area, but may not be accessed until the class is over.
  4. If you are not in your seat and prepared when the bell rings, you are tardy. If you are late because of another teacher, I expect a note or a phone call from the teacher. On the 4th tardy, you are assigned Saturday School. If I make you late to your next class because I speak to you after class, I will provide you a note. Please keep non-essential conversation with me limited to before class, so you are not late to your next class.
  5. This is a fast-paced, thought-provoking class, and it will require studying. If you are not ready for that, you may need to consider dropping it.

Labs:

Over the course of the semester, we will utilize lab material, including mannequins (akathe patients). In nursing school, the rule is this: speak and act in front of the mannequins as you would a “real”person: no horseplay, no rude comments or jokes, and you always wear gloves when touching the mannequin (just like you do with people in a healthcare setting). This rule will also be seriously enforced in my lab sessions. Students may feel silly speaking to the mannequin, and that’s fine. But no rude comments or horseplay will be tolerated. If a student fails the lab, they should reconsider continuing in the Health Science pathway.

Grading Scale:

(A) 93-100

(B) 85-92

(C) 75-84

(D) 70-74

(F) < 70

Assignment percentages:

Classroom Soft Skills 10%

Quizzes / HW / Classwork 10%

Exams 20%

Final 20%

Career Interest Project 10%

Portfolio Project 10%

Lab 20%

Total 100%

Communication: I am more than happy to respond to email from parents and students. Questions about exam material need to be asked in advance - do not wait until the night before! Parents may always call me at the school - I will return calls asap.

One final note: This class often discusses sensitive subjects: life, death, birth, anatomy, and ethics to name a few. I will model and require professional behavior. If you have any questions about the subject matter in this course, please let me know IN ADVANCE. Students have access to books for check out if parents wish you to see the lecture material for the remainder of the semester.

Contact information: ~ 865-856-3028