ST 100 - Introduction to Health Care Service

Credits: 3
Instructional Contact Hours: 3

1. Paraphrase and synthesize selected readings.
2. Evaluate critically what is read.
3. Write in a clear, organized, succinct and effective manner.
4. Utilize proper spelling, grammar and sentence structure in writing.
5. Speak effectively in expressing a reasoned point of view.
6. Listen to, respect and critically evaluate the ideas and opinions of others.
7. Exhibit development of both inductive and deductive reasoning skills.
8. Take a position on an issue and provide evidence/rationale to support that position.
9. Given a controversial issue, articulate at least two perspectives (or "sides of the argument").
10. Interpret data presented in the form of tables, graphs and charts.
11. Work constructively in a group, contributing to the product(s) of the group and accepting responsibility for one's own level of work.
12. Identify and analyze one’s own values, especially regarding health and health care.
13. Respect the perspectives, values and choices of others.

2. Discuss the history and evolution of Western medicine and its effect on surgical practice.

1. Trace Man’s concept of disease from its beginning until the present day.
2. List practices or elements of modern medicine that can be traced back to ancient cultures (Egyptian, Babylonian or Greek).
3. Describe what happened to the development of European medicine between the time of the fall of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance.
4. Discuss the advances made in medical knowledge during the 16th through 19th centuries.
5. Identify three “problems” that had to be resolved before the modern era of safe invasive surgery could begin and give the approximate dates of those solutions.
6. List at least six developments during the last approximately 150 years that are now considered “essential” parts of modern medical practice.
7. Identify current trends in the practice of surgery.
8. Identify trends or themes that recur throughout the history of Western medicine.
9. Compare the education and preparation of doctors today with those of approximately 150 years ago.
10. Describe the history of Operating Room staffing and the profession of Surgical Technology.

3. Demonstrate an understanding of ethics in the medical setting.

1. Define “health” and “disease”.
2. Discuss the negative consequences of the overuse of antibiotics.
3. Discuss the ethical issues associated with “treating” genetic predisposition toward various diseases.
4. List the stages of grief.
5. Give examples of patient expressions of egocentricity and dependency.
6. Discuss how a health care worker can respond to illness behavior.
7. Interpret the balance between “professional closeness” and “professional distance.”
8. List and explain the elements of The Patient’s Bill of Rights.
9. Describe typical patient reactions to sickness.
10. Discuss how past Supreme Court cases influence hospital policies.
11. Discuss rubrics in the ethical decision making when dealing with patients and their illness.
12. Define end of life care.

4. Explain the concept of the continuum between health behaviors and illness behaviors.

1. Define “health behaviors” and give examples.
2. Provide examples of circumstances that can influence a person’s motivation to engage in health behaviors.
3. Differentiate “disease” from “illness.”
4. Explain the differences in society’s expectations of a person when s/he is sick (referred to as “the sick role”).

5. Demonstrate an understanding of the patient as a unique individual.

1. Relate perceptions and anxieties about sickness and health care to different developmental stages in children and teenagers.
2. Discuss the general physiologic changes of aging and the social concerns of elderly patients, and explain how these may affect the care needed.
3. Discuss the influence of family or social unit on a patient’s health care experiences and recuperation.
4. Explain how factors of race and ethnicity affect the predisposition to disease.
5. Exhibit sensitivity to cultural differences in a patient’s perceptions of health and his/her receptivity to health care.
6. Discuss how religious beliefs can affect a patient’s perceptions of disease and responses to it.
7. Demonstrate awareness of how language and dialect differences can affect a patient’s
8. Relate health care system “traditions” to other aspects (e.g. dietary customs) of a culturally diverse society.
9. Relate socio-economic-educational factors to differences in patients’ perceptions, expectations and acceptance of the health care system.
10. Identify any gender differences in the factors mentioned above.
11. Given a patient description, identify relevant factors in terms of individualizing patient care.

6. Demonstrate understanding of the U.S. Health Care System.

1. Identify and trace the historic evolution of the four current goals of the health care system.
2. Discuss whether the U.S. has a “sickness care system” or a “health care system.”
3. Compare and contrast the roles and influences of the various types of health care regulatory agencies.
4. Discuss the historical development of hospitals.
5. Explain how hospitals can be classified and give examples for each.
6. Define the process of hospital accreditation and discuss its importance.
7. Describe the typical administrative structure of a hospital and how the various elements interact.
8. Identify other types of health care facilities.
9. Analyze historical changes in the financing of health care.
10. Define Medicare and Medicaid.
11. Analyze trends in economic aspects within the health care system.
12. Debate the idea of health care as a “right” or a “privilege.”
13. Identify and discuss the major problems facing the health care delivery system.
14. List factors contributing to the increasingly high cost of health care.
15. Identify current attempts to address the problems in the health care delivery system.
16. Describe current changes/trends in medical practice.
17. Define “managed care” and “capitation” and explain their intended purposes.
18. Discuss elements of the debate concerning HMO’s.
19. Discuss the evolutionary changes that are occurring within hospitals and with other types of health care facilities.

7. Discuss attributes of professional health care service.

1. Differentiate a profession from an occupation.
2. Discuss generally-held public expectations of a professional.
3. Identify aspects of quality control on a profession.
4. Define the process of accreditation of an educational program.
5. Differentiate licensure, certification, and registry; and list advantages and disadvantages of each.
6. Explain the “implicit contract” between a patient and a health care professional.
7. Identify various disciplinary measures used in quality control of practitioners.
8. Describe the job function and working conditions of a Surgical Technologist.
9. Discuss the credentialing and education requirements for a Surgical Technologist.

8. Discuss members of the health care team.

1. Relate various health care team members to the six levels of health care and the goals of the health care system.
2. Identify the three “clients” of a health care professional.
3. Discuss role ambiguities and “turf battles” among members of the team.
4. List the elements that promote positive team interaction
5. Give examples of negative stereotypes that interfere with team functioning.