AH 110 Jennifer Clemens

Medical Language for Health Fall2014

Care Providers (3 units)Sacramento City College

Syllabus

Instructor:Jennifer Clemens

Room:B-04

E-mail:

Text #:916-572-4310 (Google Voice)

Lecture:M-Th,7:45am -8:35am

Prerequisite:None

Course Description: This course is an orientation to medical language. Topics addressed include: basic structure of medical terms and their word-part components, term building and translation, spelling, pronunciation, and medical documentation formats. The course builds a medical vocabulary applicable to the specialties of medicine, the systems of the body, names of major diseases, and terms used in physical examination, diagnosis, and treatment.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • demonstrate knowledge of a fundamental medical vocabulary and related reference materials.
  • analyze, build, and translate medical terms.
  • spell and pronounce medical terms.
  • apply and interpret medical terms, abbreviations, and symbols as applied to systems of the human body, disease, diagnosis, and treatment.
  • identify medical documentation formats, related abbreviations, and legal considerations.
  • translate health care reports into common English usage.

Required Materials:

Textbook. Turley, S. Medical Terminology: Immerse Yourself, 2nd Ed. 2010. Pearson Prentice Hall. Upper Saddle River, NJ.

Access to a medical dictionary. If you are going into a nursing program at SCC, the faculty recommend:

LVN Program: Mosby’s Medical, Nursing, and Allied Health Dictionary

RN Program: Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary

Study Habits: To be successful in AH 110, a student must be motivated and have self-discipline. Adequate preparation and dedication are required. Expect to study a minimum of 2-3 hours for every hour of lecture. Try to maintain a realistic school, work, and social schedule this semester. The challenge of this course will start to prepare you for the greater challenge of completing your allied health program.

Attendance: Attending class on time, every day is extremely important to succeed in this class. Each student can miss up to three class days without penalty. Three tardies (less than 15 minutes) are the equivalent of one absence. Any tardy greater than 15 minutes is considered an absence. Any total absences beyond the allotted three will result in a lower attendance grade (see below, “Grading”).

Example:

Absence #1 / Excused
Tardy / Counted as Absence #2
Tardy
Tardy
Absence #3 / Excused
Absence #4 / Attendance Grade = 90%
Absence #5 / Attendance Grade = 80%

Grading: Letter grades will be assigned according to the following scale: 100-90%=A, 89-80%=B, 79-75%=C, 74-65%=D, 64%below=F

Spelling and AbbreviationsQuizzes / 15%
Chapter Quizzes / 25%
Classwork and Homework / 20%
Midterm Exam / 10%
Comprehensive Final Exam / 20%
Attendance / 10%

Methods of Evaluation: A variety of approaches are used to measure performance and competency. Graded homework includes activities that reinforce fundamental skills or demonstrate cumulative competency. These include multiple choice, matching, and short-answer assignments that require the use of the textbook, medical dictionaries, professional journals, or other reference materials. Scoring is based on: points per item; percentage of accuracy; or rubric. The scoring method for an activity is specifically defined on the individual assignment or exam. Tests and examinations are presented with multiple formats, including multiple choice, matching, true/false, labeling, and short answer. The final examination is cumulative in content.

Make-Up Quizzes / Exams: Since your grade depends mostly on quizzes and exams, it is essential that you makeevery effort to show up on quiz and exam days. Make-up quizzes or exams will be given only in extreme cases arranged ahead of time or with a documented medical excuse. Missing a quiz or exam without an excuse will result in a grade of zero. If you absolutely cannot make it to a quiz or exam, please give me as much advance notice as possible so alternative arrangements can be made. If you cannot contact me by the day of the quiz or exam, you have up to 24 hours after the quiz or exam is given.

Academic Honesty: Students in this class are preparing for careers in which people’s lives will depend on their knowledge. Cheating in any form will result in a grade of F on the assignment, a letter to the Dean, and a possible grade of F in the course for all parties involved. I encourage the anonymous reporting of any incident of academic dishonesty. Cheating includes but is not limited to the following:

  • Copying from someone else’s test
  • Submitting work that is not your own
  • Altering or interfering with grading
  • Using material during an exam that is not allowed
  • Consulting with someone, other than the instructor, during an exam or quiz
  • Committing other acts that defraud or misrepresent
  • See the student handbook for more information on academic honesty

Student Conduct:

  • Students will treat each other with respect and dignity at all times.
  • Cell phones and pagers must be turned to silent mode during lectures and exams.
  • Excessive talking or disruption in lecture may result in point deductions.
  • It is a student’s responsibility to drop the course if needed. Failure to drop may result in a grade of F.