Medical Communications Syllabus

SSCC / SST Medical Office Clerk Program / Fall Quarter 2007

Medical Communication Syllabus

Course Number
This class supplements AHE104 and AHE105

Instructor
Erik Gimness, (206) 769-1904; egimness@sccd.ctc.edu

Time
Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

Room
TEC 133A

COURSE OBJECTIVES
Students will improve their ability to apply basic English grammar and punctuation rules appropriately and effectively in written medical communications
Students will expand and retain their knowledge of mathematical concepts relevant to medical office usage
Students will evaluate and develop their oral and non-verbal communication skills in giving and receiving information in person and by telephone in a medical-office setting
Students will prepare for their job search by composing a cover letter and a model resume, clearly presenting personalized information and geared towards the position of their choice


COURSE DESCRIPTION*
Schedule and topics are subject to change based on student needs and skills.

Week 1: Learning styles and study methods, written versus spoken English,
writing rules, punctuation rules review
Week 2: Punctuation exercises, cover letter; math
Week 3: Letter/memo assignments, citations; math
Week 4: Grammar exercises (TBA), spelling; math
Week 5: AHE104 Style Guide review, math
Week 6: Editing and proofreading cover letter, review of job requisitions; math
Week 7: Proofreading exercises; math
Week 8: Grammar review; math
Week 9: Customer / co-worker relations; math
Week 10: Resume; math
Week 11: Final exam, interview practice with resume and job target

It is the student’s responsibility to find out missed assignments and obtain materials if absent from class.


TEXT
Course materials will be supplied by the instructor.


ATTENDANCE
Your ultimate success will depend on regular attendance and punctuality. If you must be absent, please leave a phone message for or send an e-mail to both the instructor – (206)769-1904, egimness@sccd.ctc.edu – and program coordinator (see AHE105 syllabus) with a reason for the absence.

*All absences, leaving early, or coming late will be appropriately documented with your caseworkers, funding source, or Workforce Education.


GRADING
Grades received in this class will contribute to your overall grades for AHE104 and AHE105.

· Attendance: 25%
· Resume and cover letter: 25%
· Math: 25%
· Written exercises/grammar: 25%

*Assignments 1 day late will be assessed a 20% penalty; thereafter, assignments will not be accepted.


DISABILITIES
Any student with a documented disability condition who requires accommodations, please inform the instructor, and Disability Support Services (Main Campus, Robert Smith Building, Room RS12, (206) 763-5137).





* After week 1, these are considered supplemental exercises. You will not receive any assignments.

AHE 104 Syllabus

SSCC
AHE 104
Medical Office
Medical Administrative Procedures I
SYLLABUS
FALL QUARTER 2007

Syllabus: All or part of this syllabus is subject to change depending upon instructor’s perception of overall class benefit.

Prerequisites: Acceptance into the Medical Office Program

Instructor Information:
Name
Jessie McDonald
Office
AMT 102c
Phone
206/768-6496
Email
jmcdonal@sccd.ctc.edu

Text: Copies of required texts will be distributed during class.

Attendance will be approximately 25 percent of your overall grade.

Course Description: This course has one major focus: Portfolio development. Components will include:
· Office Procedures
§ Handling correspondence
§ Managing supplies
§ Creating and maintaining patient records
§ Scheduling appointments
§ Documenting patient contact
· Document Generation
§ Letters
§ Memos
§ Forms
§ Medical Records
· Professional Objectives
§ Self-discipline and positive attitude by being in class, being on time, being prepared for class, and handing in assignments on time in a neat and professional manner.
§ Good listening skills by participating in class discussion, problem solving, and following verbal instructions.
§ Accuracy by following directions explicitly when completing assignments.
· Keyboarding
· Computer Software
§ Word
§ Excel

Course Content
This course will be comprised of the above components aimed at developing a job-search portfolio.

Timed Writings: Throughout the course, you will be given timed writings. These assignments will be used to increase your speed and accuracy keying medical information as well as improve your proofreading skills.

Professional Objectives – upon completion of this course, you develop your proficiency in the following Professional Objectives.
· Critical Thinking Ability (page 15)
§ Evaluating/Analyzing Circumstances and information
§ Solving Problems
· Attention to Detail (page 15)
§ Accuracy
§ Completeness
· Willingness to Learn (page 16)
§ Being in class every day
§ Being on time
§ Being prepared for class
§ Submitting neat and professional looking assignments on time
§ Communicating in an appropriate manner with classmates and instructors
§ Participating in class discussion
· Flexibility (page 16)
· Self-Motivation (page 16)
· Professionalism (page 16)
· Courtesy
· Conscientiousness
· Businesslike Manner
· Attitude (page 17)
§ Positive and Professional
§ Respond to criticism as a learning experience
§ Take direction from instructor without complaining
§ Respecting others’ rights to a productive learning environment
· Integrity (page 17)
· Honesty
· Doing your own work
§ Not giving your work to others unless it is a team assignment
§ Reliability
§ Dependability
· Diplomacy (page 17)
· Proper Judgment (page 18)
· Appropriate Communication Skills (page 18)
· Self-discipline
· Positive attitude
· Good Listening Skills
· Meeting deadlines

SUPPORTING Classroom Objectives
1. Give examples of effective communication strategies with patients.
2. Discuss ways to establish positive communication with coworkers and supervisors.
3. Identify the types of correspondence used in medical office communications.
4. Compose a business letter.
5. Describe the process of handling incoming and outgoing mail.
6. Describe supplies used in a typical medical office and their proper storage.
7. Discuss systems for tracking and maintaining supplies inventory.
8. Follow procedures for ordering supplies, checking the supply order, and paying for the supplies.
9. Explain the purpose of compiling patient records.
10. Describe the procedures for creating and maintaining patient records.
11. Explain how to correct, update, and release a medical record.
12. Discuss the equipment and supplies needed for the various types of filing systems and the benefits of each.
13. Describe the filing process and the steps taken in locating a misplaced file.
14. Describe the various file storage options and the criteria for determining whether files should be retained, stored, or discarded.
15. Effectively manage incoming telephone calls.
16. Maintain an office appointment book including setting up a system and scheduling appointments that are outside the medical office.
17. Describe how to schedule appointments that are outside the medical office.
18. Demonstrate proficiency in correctly creating and formatting a variety of medical documents, including simple to complex medical correspondence, tables, and reports
19. Exhibit accuracy in editing and proofreading documents
20. Demonstrate awareness of the importance of grammar and punctuation
21. Demonstrate improved keyboarding skills, document and 10-key
22. Demonstrate professional work habits of efficiency and organization
23. Demonstrate awareness of safety and health issues in the office
24. Describe how the office policy and procedures manual is used as a communication tool in the medical office.
25. List educational resources that are available for use in the medical office.

Policies:
Attendance: Refer to Attendance and Grading Policy presented first day of class. Students will sign or clock in each morning and each afternoon. If you cannot attend class on any given day, please call or e-mail the Coordinator.

Courtesy
When the instructor is presenting information to the class (lecturing or demonstrating), please refrain from conducting personal conversations with your classmates. If you are unsure about what the instructor is saying or cannot hear her, please raise your hand and ask for clarification. If you are simply not interested, please allow those around you who are interested, to hear. Thank you. You will extend these same courtesies to your classmates.

When you have to speak with a classmate, do so by walking over to that person, not calling across the room. Don’t do this until the instructor is finished.

Academic Integrity: Integrity is a crucial quality for employees in the allied health care field. Therefore, students must maintain the highest standard of individual honor and integrity in their work. Unless otherwise directed, students are expected to do their own work in this course. This includes, but is not limited to, homework, papers, written reports, tests, and exams. If the instructor believes that students are sharing files or not adhering to this policy in any other manner, the instructor will meet with the students. If it is determined that cheating has taken place, the Program Coordinator will be notified and all participants will be barred from class for a period of one week; all assignments due during that time will receive a zero and students will not be able to make up the grades. Repeated offences may result in dismissal from the program.

Maintaining academic integrity is in your best interests. If you observe cheating taking place in class and do not report it, then you are as much a participant as those who actually did the cheating. You must have the courage to tell your classmates when they are acting inappropriately or let your instructor know. However, this is a serious accusation and must be supported by more than one witness.

ADA Compliance: If you have a documented disability that will require accommodations in this course, please register with Disability Support Services in the Robert Smith Building, Room RS 12 (763-5137) for assistance in developing a plan to address your academic needs.

Grades: You will given grading criteria for various assignments. Late assignments—I will accept them the beginning of class next class day after the original due date. That is, if the assignment is due on Friday, I will accept at the beginning of class on Tuesday. You will automatically lose 20 percent. So, if an assignment is worth 100 points, you will automatically lose 20 points—any errors will then be deducted from 80 rather than 100. Got it? J

PLANNED DAILY STRUCTURE
10:00 – 11:00 Math/Medical Office Communications
11:00 – 12:30 Lab
12:30 – 1:30 Lunch
1:20 – 2:00 Timings
2:00 – 2:50 Computers
3:00 – 4:30 Yellow Book Chapters