AHS 1883 INTRODUCTION TO CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCES

Spring 2009

T, TR 8:00 AM - 9:15 AM     Classroom No: BB – 3.01.12

                                                                                                 (Business Building)

Course Director: 
 

   M. Douglas Bearden, MA, CLS (NCA), MT (ASCP)

   Assistant Professor/Education Coordinator

   Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences

   University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

   Email: beardenm@uthscsa.edu 
 
 

   Office:   UTSA (BB - 3.01.12)  UTHSCSA (new Allied Health         Sciences Building, Rm. 4.204)

   Office Hours: 0700– 0800 T&TR  By appointment 
 

   Phone:  Cell phone – 885-1657 567-8860 
 
 
 

DEPARTMENT OF CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCES MISSION:  To graduate outstanding clinical laboratory science professionals capable of performing as members of the health care team in a diverse, expanding health care environment, to provide service and leadership to the clinical laboratory community, especially in South Texas, and to contribute to the knowledge base of the professions through scholarly activities. 
 

DEPARTMENT OF CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCES GOAL:

To maintain curriculums that will provide graduates with the technical skills, knowledge and problem solving ability characteristic of a health care professional.  This goal encompasses: 
 

• Integration of theoretical concepts into practice.
• Development of research and management skills
• Development of ethical and professional values.
• Recognition of the need for continuous professional and personal    growth.
• Recognition of a personal responsibility to participate as a member of the health care team.

COURSE GOALS:

The instructor as well as guest instructors will introduce and provide information about the profession of clinical laboratory sciences.  The students will gain valuable background information in Medical terminology and laboratory mathematics necessary for advancement to other clinical laboratory science courses. 
 

COURSE OVERVIEW:

This course is designed to give the entering clinical laboratory science student information on the profession of clinical laboratory science including history, career opportunities, job characteristics, professional organizations.  The student will be introduced to Medical terminology through a study of the body systems.  Relationships between abnormal human physiology and laboratory testing will be emphasized.   Basic laboratory mathematics will also be taught. 
 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

At completion of this course, the student will be able to: 
 

      1. Define medical roots, prefixes and suffixes and interpret related     Medical terms. 
 

      2. Identify the anatomy, physiology and the functions of selected body systems. 
 

      3. Describe the significance of laboratory testing in relation to normal     and abnormal body functions. 
 

      4. Solve laboratory math problems. 
 

      5. Describe the history of laboratory medicine including education,     accreditation, organization and integration in the health care system. 
 

      6. List the different settings for clinical laboratories; define each area of     the clinical laboratory and determine its function in clinical medicine. 
 

      7.   Identify the career paths available for CLS and provide the      advantages and disadvantages and education level of each. 
 

      8. Identify the educational levels in clinical laboratory science and     describe the differences in responsibilities/tasks of each. 
 

9. Chart the organization of a hospital and give the function of each unit and discuss management and leadership principles as they apply to the clinical laboratory. 
 

      10.  Analyze an ethical dilemma and give the general ethical principles     used in this analysis 
 

      11. Interview a practicing health professional and write a paper      describing your findings. 
 

12. Analyze medical case histories and determine patient’s condition by interpreting Medical terms.

13. Acquire a rudimentary level of phlebotomy and its importance in laboratory testing.

14. Gain an elementary understanding of quality assurance and quality control and their relationship to each laboratory section.

TEXTBOOKS  
 

Required:    An Introduction to Clinical Laboratory Science

                              Mahon, Smith, Burns.  Philadelphia:  W.B. Saunders, 1998 
 

Recommended:   Medical Dictionary:  Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary,

                              18^th edition

                              F. A. Davis Company - Publishers 
 
 

GRADES AND POLICIES:

Your grade for this course will be a combination of your performance on four examinations, three unit examinations and the final comprehensive examination, and a writing project.  Each examination will cover material presented in class and in assigned reading materials. Your grade will be calculated as follows: 
 

                  Exam #1  = 20%

                  Exam #2  = 20%

                  Exam #3  = 20%

                  Final Exam = 20%

                  Career Panel

                  Attendance = 10%

                  Writing Project  = 10%

                                          100% 
 

Extra Credit:  If you complete and submit your case studies to me on their due date (see the last section of the syllabus), you can earn up to 4%.  The 4% will be added after your final percentage is calculated. 
 
 

Writing Project Directions/Guidelines:  Select a health professional or administrator to interview.  Ask permission to interview them and set an appointment.  Be sure to be on time and dress as for a job interview.  Take notes.  The purpose of the interview is to gather information on their career field including:  education required, continuing education required, licensure or certification requirements, job description, pay range from entering professional to supervisor/manager, challenges (especially those associated with managed care), opportunities for employment and advancement, future directions for the career field and any other information you are interested in. 
 

Prepare a list of questions from the information in the previous paragraph that you will be asking your health professional or administrator.   
 

Write a paper describing the profession and your findings.  The paper should be double-spaced and type written.  Keep the length to between 1.5 - 3 pages.   The paper is due by April 17 but may be turned in earlier. I will not accept papers after April 17. 
 

You will be graded on grammar, spelling, accuracy (deductions for typos), and completeness of content. 
 
 
 

Letter grades are based on the following scale: 
 

                  A = 90-100

                  B = 80-89

                  C = 70-79

                  D = 60-69

                  F = Below 60% 
 

No make-up tests will be given.  If for some serious reason you must be absent on the day a test will be given, you must notify your instructor prior to the exam so that arrangements can be made.  Otherwise, your grade for that exam will be 0%.

You are expected to attend class on a regular basis and to arrive in a timely manner.   
 

Late entrances disrupt the class. 
 

If you have need of special accommodations in this class, let the course director know as soon as possible. 
 

The course director reserves the right to make changes in the schedule.