Medical and health science

Course length: Nine weeks

Course number: 170236

Course description: This is an introductory course designed to provide students with the basic foundational principles of healthcare. Throughout the course, students will examine various aspects of the healthcare field, including personal traits, teamwork, government agencies, criminal and civil law, basic math used in the healthcare field, religious and cultural beliefs, common diseases, and many different body systems. It is a course that is designed to introduce the many aspects of the healthcare field.

Students will: 

• Demonstrate Professionalism in Healthcare – Identify key personal traits of a healthcare worker, such as honesty, empathy, accountability, and cultural awareness.
• Understand Healthcare Teams and Collaboration – Describe roles and responsibilities within a healthcare team, the benefits of teamwork, and the importance of conflict resolution.
• Develop Effective Communication Skills – Differentiate between verbal and nonverbal communication and explain the role of HIPAA in patient privacy and confidentiality.
• Explore Healthcare Facilities and Services – Identify various healthcare facilities, government agencies, and volunteer organizations that provide medical services in the U.S.
• Understand Healthcare Laws and Ethics – Compare criminal and civil law in healthcare, recognize ethical dilemmas, and explore cultural and religious impacts on patient care.
• Apply Math and Time Skills in Medicine – Read military time and use medical math, including ratios, percentages, fractions, Roman numerals, and the metric system.
• Learn Human Body Organization and Function – Describe body organization from cells to systems, use anatomical directional terms, and identify body cavities and quadrants.
• Explore Body Systems and Common Diseases – Study the structure, function, and common disorders of major body systems, including their causes, treatments, and prevention.
• Promote Health and Wellness – Identify the benefits of regular exercise, a balanced diet, and effective stress management strategies for overall well-being.
• Prepare for a Future in Healthcare – Develop a budget and set financial goals related to potential healthcare careers.

Course length: 18 weeks

Course number: 170237

Course description: This course is designed to empower students with basic knowledge of the healthcare industry, enabling them to make an informed decision about their career path. Throughout the course, students will explore various careers within the healthcare industry, covering diagnostic, therapeutic, health informatics, support services, and biotechnology research fields. Students will gain insight into these sectors along with an understanding of the training requirements, salary ranges, job outlook, and basic skills within these sectors.

Students will: 

• Explore Health Science Career Pathways – Identify careers in diagnostic, therapeutic, health informatics, support services, and biotechnology research and development.
• Understand Diagnostic Services – Compare roles of professionals like pathologists and phlebotomists, research their education and job outlook, and demonstrate basic diagnostic skills.
• Prevent and Control Infection – Differentiate between pathogenic and nonpathogenic microorganisms, identify the chain of infection, and demonstrate infection prevention techniques.
• Investigate Therapeutic Services – Compare roles of healthcare providers such as nurses, physical therapists, and physicians, and demonstrate basic patient care skills.
• Develop Emergency and Clinical Skills – Perform basic CPR and AED use, measure and chart vital signs, and demonstrate medication administration or patient mobility techniques.
• Examine Health Informatics Careers – Compare roles like healthcare administrators and medical coders, research their career requirements, and practice patient record management.
• Understand Medical Ethics and Privacy – Define HIPAA, recognize the importance of patient confidentiality, and perform tasks such as phone etiquette and medical illustration creation.
• Explore Support Services in Healthcare – Identify careers in hospital maintenance and central supply, research their training and safety protocols, and practice sterilization techniques.
• Investigate Biomedical Careers – Research professions such as genetic counselors and forensic scientists, and engage in bioethical discussions or laboratory simulations.
• Develop Financial and Career Planning Skills – Set a personal financial goal, research a career to meet that goal, and create a plan for achieving financial stability.

Course length: Full year

Course number: 170111

Course description: Principles of Health Science is an orientation and foundation for occupations and functions in any health care profession. The course includes broad health care core standards that specify the knowledge and skills needed by the vast majority of health care workers. The course focuses on exploring health career options, history of health care, ethical and legal responsibilities, leadership development, safety concepts, health care systems and processes, and basic health care industry skills. This introductory course may be a prerequisite for additional courses in the Health Science program.

Students will:

• Examine the Evolution of Healthcare – Analyze medical milestones, trends, and healthcare systems to understand their impact on modern medicine.
• Understand Healthcare Careers and Teams – Explore career pathways, roles, and responsibilities of healthcare professionals.
• Demonstrate Ethical and Legal Responsibility – Apply ethical principles, cultural awareness, and legal guidelines, including HIPAA.
• Develop Effective Communication Skills – Use verbal, written, and technological communication methods in healthcare settings.
• Apply Health and Safety Standards – Follow workplace safety procedures to prevent injury, illness, and contamination.
• Analyze Human Behavior in Healthcare – Explore Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and its impact on patient care and healthcare interactions.
• Make Informed Healthcare Consumer Decisions – Evaluate services, products, and community resources to support personal and public health.
• Demonstrate Career Readiness Skills – Practice job applications, resume writing, and interview techniques for healthcare professions.
• Utilize Health Science Leadership Organizations – Engage in HOSA-Future Health Professionals for leadership and career development.
• Integrate Core Academic Skills – Apply literacy, numeracy, and technology to problem-solving in health science fields.

• Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA)

Bryan Station High School

• Academy of Medical Science: Allied Health, Pre-Nursing, and Pharmacy Technician

Frederick Douglass High School

• Academy of Health Sciences: Allied Health

The HILL (Hub for Innovative Learning and Leadership)

• Health Sciences Pathway

Tates Creek High School

• Academy of Medical and Emergency Services: Allied Health, Nursing