Course Syllabus

HSC 3537 Section AM01: Medical Terminology – 3 credits

Department of Health Management and Informatics

College of Health and Public Affairs, University of Central Florida

 

SUMMER A SYLLABUS

 

Instructor:	Thomas Falen, DHSc, MA, RHIA	Term:	Summer A 2016
Office:	HPA II – 217	Class Meeting Location/ Days/Time:	CB1 O104/ MoTuWe 10:00AM - 11:50AM
Phone:	407-823-2369	Office Hours	Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays 12 NOON - 2:00 PM
E-Mail:	Thomas.Falen@ucf.edu

 

1. Welcome!  Instructor introduction from Dr. Falen....

I want to take this opportunity to welcome each of you to HSC 3537 – Medical Terminology. My interest in medical terminology began during my years working in hospitals in various positions such as Risk Manager, DRG Analyst, Data Quality Manager, and Administrative Director over the QM/Utilization Review and HIM Departments. I had initially planned to pursue a career in nursing but instead embarked on a different path to become a healthcare informatics specialist where I worked 17 years within hospital settings.

I have been a full-time faculty member with UCF within the College of Health and Public Affairs, teaching within the Health Information Management and Health Services Administration programs for many years; and have taught several courses in the clinical sciences, quality management, medical coding, healthcare management, and ethics courses. My undergraduate degrees include English Education from SUNY Brockport and Health Information Management from UCF. My Master’s degree is in Healthcare Management from Webster University, and I completed my doctoral degree in Health Sciences through A.T. Still University in Mesa, AZ. I was also trained as an EMT.

My special interests include medical coding systems (ICD-9, ICD-10), quality management in health care, electronic surveillance systems to prevent hospital acquired conditions (HACs), electronic home wellness monitoring systems that support "aging in place"; and of course, medical terminology.

Again, welcome to the course!

1. University Course Catalog Description   HSC 3537 HPA-HP 3(3,0)

Medical Terminology: A study of the language of medicine and allied health specialties, including word construction, definitions, and application of terms.

 

III.          Course Overview

 

This course designed to improve your vocabulary skills, prepare you for advanced professional preparation courses by incorporating content taught in advanced medical and scientific courses, and provide you with the word part and compound term memorization, repetition, and the reinforcements needed to assure mastery of this unique language.

1. Course Prerequisites

Prerequisites:              None

 

1. Required Text

 

Required text: The Language of Medicine, 11th ed. by Davi-Ellen Chabner ISBN: 978-0-323-37081-3 

Can be purchased from the UCF Bookstore OR purchased directly from the publisher by going to the following website: http://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/ (Links to an external site.) and entering the ISBN 9780323370813 into the search box (in the upper margin).

1. Supplementary (Optional) Texts and Materials

Optional: Medical Dictionary (i.e. - Taber’s, Dorland’s, Stedman’s, etc.)

 

VII.        Course Objectives

Course Objectives:  At the completion of this course, the student should be able to demonstrate the ability to:

1. a) Analyze words structurally and to learn the tools of word analysis such as roots, suffixes, prefixes, and combining forms
2. b) Relate word elements with basic anatomy, physiology, and disease processes of the human body
3. c) Assemble, interpret, spell, and pronounce medical terms
4. d) Recognize, compose, and/or define medical abbreviations.

 

 VIII.       Course Competencies, Assessment and Learning Methods

General Considerations:  GO to webcourses2c.instructure.com 

There will be 4 tests, 4 quizzes, and a final exam in the course that are all given on-line. EVERYONE must take ALL exams, including the final exam.

The (4) chapter quizzes in Canvas must be completed per the syllabus schedule (by 11 pm).  There will be NO exceptions to this!  The quizzes will contain 20 questions, each worth 1.25 points. Chapter quizzes will not be available after the “due date” and cannot be made up.

The (4) tests will contain 50 questions, each worth 2 points.  Format will be multiple choice, true false, and matching. All (4) tests in Canvas must be completed per the syllabus schedule (by 11 pm).

The chapter quizzes, tests, and the final exam will be timed, and you will be given 75 minutes to take them.  One attempt is allowed.  It is important that you regularly perform browser checks to ensure that content within the modules will display. Contact the Techrangers if you have problems at https://online.ucf.edu/support/ or 407-823-3808.  Computers and laptops in the library are not reliable for testing purposes due to slow connections.

DO NOT post specific questions about any quiz or test item on the Discussion Board. If you have questions regarding a quiz/exam, please send me your question via our Canvas course e-mail.

It is recommended that students complete all workbook exercises at the end of the chapters.   The repetitive nature of these exercises is felt to be the best way to learn medical terminology.   Also, these are a likely source of test questions!

Flash cards for the word parts introduced in chapters 1-4 are highly recommended as a study tool.  We will learn more word parts in subsequent chapters, but will use those introduced in chapters 1-4 over and over.

Please keep in mind that; generally, quizzes are usually scheduled on Thursdays and tests are usually scheduled on Sundays.

PLEASE REMEMBER! MEDICAL LANGUAGE CANNOT BE LEARNED OVERNIGHT. IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KEEP UP WITH YOUR ASSIGNMENTS, READINGS AND LESSONS

 

1. Basis for Final Grade

Methods of Evaluation: No +/- grading, no rounding.	Grading Scale:
4 Tests @ 100 pts      400	A = 90 – 100 = 540-600 pt
4 Quizzes @ 25 pts    100	B = 80 – 89.9= 480-539 pt
1 Final Exam             100	C = 70 – 79.9= 420-479 pt
Total = 600 points	D = 60 – 69.9= 360-419 pt
	F = 0-59.9= 0-359 pt

 

 

1. Financial Aid Requirement

IMPORTANT!  All faculty members are required to document students’ academic activity at the beginning of each course. In order to document that you began this course, you must complete the Discussion Post activity by 4:00 pm, Friday, May 20. Failure to do so will result in a delay in the disbursement of your financial aid.

1. Grade Dissemination

Graded tests and quizzes in this course will be returned individually. You can access your scores at any time using the Grade Book function of Webcourses.

XII.         Ethics Statement & Academic Conduct Policy

Ethics Statement: As reflected in the UCF creed, integrity and scholarship are core values that should guide our conduct and decisions as members of the UCF community. Plagiarism and cheating contradict these values, and so are very serious academic offenses. Penalties can include a failing grade in an assignment or in the course, or suspension or expulsion from the university. Students are expected to familiarize themselves with and follow the University’s Rules of Conduct (see http://www.osc.sdes.ucf.edu/ (Links to an external site.)).

Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. If you are uncertain as to what constitutes academic dishonesty, please consult The Golden Rule, the University of Central Florida's Student Handbook (http://www.goldenrule.sdes.ucf.edu/) for further details. As in all University courses, The Golden Rule Rules of Conduct will be applied. Violations of these rules will result in a record of the infraction being placed in your file and receiving a zero on the work in question AT A MINIMUM. At the instructor’s discretion, you may also receive a failing grade for the course. Confirmation of such incidents can also result in expulsion from the University.

Plagiarism and Cheating of any kind on an examination, quiz, or assignment will result at least in an "F" for that assignment (and may, depending on the severity of the case, lead to an "F" for the entire course) and may be subject to appropriate referral to the Office of Student Conduct for further action. See the UCF Golden Rule for further information. I will assume for this course that you will adhere to the academic creed of this University and will maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. In other words, don't cheat by giving answers to others or taking them from anyone else. I will also adhere to the highest standards of academic integrity, so please do not ask me to change (or expect me to change) your grade illegitimately or to bend or break rules for one person that will not apply to everyone.

 

XIII.        Course Policies

Attendance Policy: This is a mixed-mode course and meets live on-campus Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 10:00AM to 11:50AM. Attendance will be taken on random days within the semester and will be taken into consideration by the instructor when assigning final grades (e.g., may positively or negatively affect a student’s final grade especially for those with borderline grades) and students wanting to receive letters of recommendation for future academic or career endeavors.

Classroom Devices: Tape recorders (audio only) may be used for class lectures.

Disability Access: The University of Central Florida is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all persons with disabilities. This syllabus is available in alternate formats upon request. Students with disabilities who need accommodations in this course must contact the professor at the beginning of the semester to discuss needed accommodations. No accommodations will be provided until the student has met with the professor to request accommodations. Students who need accommodations must be registered with Student Disability Services, Student Resource Center Room 132, phone (407) 823-2371, TTY/TDD only phone (407) 823-2116, before requesting accommodations from the professor.

Email: In this class, our official mode of communication is through email (use Canvas course mail or UCF Knightsmail only). All communication between student and instructor and between student and student should be respectful and professional.

Extra Credit Policy: No extra credit is available for this course.

Grades of "Incomplete": The current university policy concerning incomplete grades will be followed in this course. Incomplete grades are given only in situations where unexpected emergencies prevent a student from completing the course and the remaining work can be completed the next semester. Your instructor is the final authority on whether you qualify for an incomplete. Incomplete work must be finished by the end of the subsequent semester or the “I” will automatically be recorded as an “F” on your transcript.

Laptop and Mobile Device Usage: The use of laptops or mobile devices is highly discouraged during class lectures because they disrupt the learning environment.

Late Work Policy: There are no make-ups. It is extremely important to mark your calendar (per the syllabus schedule) and keep pace with the due dates.

Webcourses: Students should expect to login each day to keep pace with due dates, discussion posts, and course announcements, etc.

Professionalism Policy: Mobile phones, iPods, etc. must be silenced during all classroom and lab lectures. Those not heeding this rule will be asked to leave the classroom/lab immediately so as to not disrupt the learning environment. Please arrive on time for all class meetings. Students who habitually disturb the class by talking, arriving late, etc., and have been warned may suffer a reduction in their final class grade.

XIV.        Important Dates to Remember

Important dates to remember are specified within the Class Schedule that follows; however, all dates and assignments are tentative, and can be changed at the discretion of the instructor.

 

1. Schedule: 

Dates	Chapter Reading/Modules	Topics/Quizzes/Tests
WEEK 1
5/16/16	One	Introduction, Basic Word Structure
5/17/16	Two	Terms Pertaining to the Body as a Whole
5/18/16	Three   Four	Suffixes   Prefixes   On-line QUIZ #1, Ch 1 - Opens 8am & closes 11pm on Thursday, May 19   On-line TEST #1, Ch 1-4 - Opens 8am & closes 11pm on Sunday, May 22
WEEK 2
5/23/16	Five Six	Digestive System Digestive System Terminology
5/24/16	Seven	Urinary System
5/25/16	Eight Nine	Female Reproductive System Male Reproductive System Online QUIZ #2, Ch 5, 6, 7 – Opens 8am & closes 11pm on Thursday, May 26   On-line TEST #2, Ch 5-9 – Opens 8am & closes 11pm on Sunday, May 29
WEEK 3
5/30/16		Memorial Day (Observed) – No class
5/31/16	Ten	Nervous System
6/1/16	Eleven	Cardiovascular System Online QUIZ #3, Ch 10,11 – Opens 8am & closes 11pm on Thursday, June 2
WEEK 4
6/6/16	Twelve	Respiratory System
6/7/16	Thirteen	Blood System
6/8/16	Fourteen	Lymphatic and Immune Systems On-line TEST #3, Ch 10-14 – Opens 8am and closes 11pm on Sunday, June 12
WEEK 5
6/13/16	Fifteen	Musculoskeletal System
6/14/16	Sixteen Seventeen	Skin Sense Organs: The Eye and the Ear
6/15/16	Eighteen	Endocrine System On-line QUIZ #4, Ch 15, 16 – Opens 8am and closes 11pm on Thursday, June 16  On-line TEST #4, Ch 15-18 – Opens 8am and closes 11pm on Sunday, June 19
WEEK 6
6/20/16	Nineteen Twenty	Cancer Medicine (Oncology) Radiology and Nuclear Medicine
6/21/16	Twenty-one Twenty-two	Pharmacology Psychiatry
6/22/16	No Class – Final Exam	On-line Final Exam Chapters 19-22, opens 4pm Tuesday 6/21 and closes 11pm , Thursday, June 23

 

THIS IS A TENTATIVE SCHEDULE - The above schedule is subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances