Healthcare Foundations

Certificate Program

Overview

This program prepares individuals to perform the duties of special assistants and personal secretaries for practicing physicians and nurses, healthcare facilities and services administrators, and other healthcare professionals. Includes instruction in business and medical communications, medical terminology, principles of health care operations, public relations and interpersonal communications, software applications, record-keeping and filing systems, scheduling and meeting planning, applicable policy and regulations, and professional standards and ethics.

Program Outcomes

At the completion of this program, the student should be able to:

Identify and apply the medical terminology and abbreviations of the healthcare profession.
Utilize information technology for research and the solution of common business problems.
Operate programs, software, and computer applications in the healthcare profession.
Demonstrate an understanding of relevant data sources, compliance rules, regulations, and patient care ethics.
Demonstrate proficiency in business writing and communication skills as they apply to the healthcare field.

Please note this program is not eligible for financial aid.

Academic Division of Natural and Health Science

Healthcare Foundations Courses

- Code
- Course
- Credits
- CSI 101
- Introduction to Computers
- 3
This course introduces the student to the theory, structure, and application of computers. Topics include word processing, spread sheeting, presentation, and database management (software).
- HSC 140
- Medical Terminology
- 3
This course provides a foundation for the understanding of medical terms, their abbreviations, basic anatomy and physiology as well as pathological conditions. It includes the study of prefixes and suffixes and root/stem words as well as medical technology terms with an emphasis on spelling, pronunciation, definitions and common usage. This course is similar to learning a foreign language and involves the memorization as well as the application of words/terms. The student will study and demonstrate proficiency in spelling, pronouncing, definition and application of medical terms.
- PHL 103
- Medical Ethics
- 3
This course will examine a number of value problems arising from the broader context of ethical systems and explore them within the context of medicine and health care. Among the ethical problems, particular considerations will be given to euthanasia, abortion, genetic research, and human experimentation. Issues of medicine and the public interest will also be discussed. Open to all students. Placement at ENG 101 level strongly advised.
- SOC 112
- Interpersonal Communication
- 3
An experience-based introduction to the concepts and skills in oral communication; listening, feedback, group discussions, speeches, self-disclosure and relational communication.