Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Students will be able to perform clinical duties as related to the physicians office.
 

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

1. Perform clinical competencies as required by the accrediting agency in a medical setting.
2. Apply techniques that ensure sterility and quality control in a medical setting.
3. Prepare patients for physical examinations and procedures, including surgical and diagnostic procedures, and assist the physician.
4. Apply general knowledge of medications, medication administration, specimen collection, ECG and pulmonary function testing in the medical setting.
5. Apply therapeutic, respectful, and professional communication techniques.
6. Communicate with patients using industry standard practices.
7. Apply patient-centered communication techniques and teach back method of confirming patient understanding. 

Students will demonstrate these learning outcomes by these tasks conducted individually and in cooperation with other students:

The goal of this course is to provide students with complex clinical and communication skills to successfully work in ambulatory care. Both clinical skills and patient communication skills are incorporated within each competency and students will be coached by faculty during practice. Students will apply information obtained from previous courses and clinical lecture in order to meet the patient-centered communication standards and principles. Student performance will be measured by utilizing a clear set of competencies for each clinical skill. 

Students will answer theoretical and application questions in their weekly discussions via D2L and in-person classroom. Individual competency testing will take place after completion of lab work and hands-on practice. All clinical lab skills will be demonstrated by the instructor and students will be supervised by faculty as they work towards becoming competent.  

Structured lab will be held weekly. Students will work through D2L lectures and associated assignments throughout the term. Each section of the D2L course will contain readings, videos, pre-lab work, and critical thinking discussion questions. 

Lab work must be completed by the assigned due date. Students will receive corrected work from the course instructor. Critical thinking questions will be reviewed during lab class with students in a discussion format. 

Clinical competencies include the following; 

• Vital Signs

• Aseptic Technique and Infection Control

• Handling of Equipment

  • Setting up sterile trays 

• Injection Procedures

• Electrocardiography

• Durable Medical Equipment Fitting

• Pulmonary Function Testing

• Parenteral Medication administration

• Urine screening

• Patient Screenings

Students will demonstrate the following skills during clinical lab:

1. Perform clinical competencies as required by the accrediting agency in a medical setting.

2. Apply techniques that ensure sterility and quality control in a medical setting.

3. Prepare patients for physical examinations and procedures, including surgical and diagnostic procedures, and assist the physician.

4. Demonstrate the ability to instruct and prepare a patient for a procedure or treatment. 

5. Apply general knowledge of vital signs, documentation, medications, medication administration, specimen collection, and EKG in the medical setting.

6. Measure and record the following; blood pressure, temperature, pulse, respirations, height, weight, BMI and pulse oximetry. 

7. Perform the following electrocardiography and pulmonary function testing. 

8. Perform patient screening using established protocols based on various chronic conditions. 

9. Apply the "six rights" to proper medication administration. 

10. Select proper sites for administering parenteral medication.

11. Demonstrate ability to administer parenteral medications.

12. Calculate the proper dosages of medication for administration. 

13. Apply communication techniques and behaviors in the clinical setting that are therapeutic, respectful, and professional.

14. Apply professionalism in patient interviews and interactions with healthcare professionals and the general public.

15. Apply the teach back method of confirming patient understanding.

16. Apply communication, clinical skills and teamwork in a mock clinic setting, utilizing competency skills completed in the program, including venipuncture, capillary puncture, point-of-care testing, and clinical skills from this course.

Students completing this course will satisfy core curriculum requirements from the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB), meet standards of accrediting body, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP):

ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY

I.P.1.            Measure and record: a. blood pressure; b. temperature; c. pulse; d. respirations; e. height; f. weight; g. length (infant); h. head circumference (infant); i. pulse oximetry

I.P.2.            Perform: a. electrocardiography; d. pulmonary function testing

I.P.3.            Perform patient screening using established protocols

I.P.4.            Verify the rules of medication administration: a. right patient; b. right medication; c. right dose; d. right route; e. right time; f. right documentation

I.P.5.            Select proper sites for administering parenteral medication

I.P.7.            Administer parenteral (excluding IV)medications

I.P.8.            Instruct and prepare a patient for a procedure or treatment

I.P.10.           Perform a quality control measure

APPLIED MATHEMATICS

II.P.1.            Calculate proper dosages of medication for administration

II.P.2.        Record lab test results into the patient's record

II.P.3.            Document on a growth chart

II.P.4.         Apply math computations to solve equations

II.P.5        Convert among measurement systems

INFECTION CONTROL

III.P.3.         Perform handwashing

III.P.4.         Prepare items for autoclaving

III.P.5.         Perform sterilization procedures

III.P.6.         Prepare a sterile field

III.P.7.         Perform within a sterile field

III.P.8.         Perform wound care

III.P.9.         Perform dressing change

CONCEPTS OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

V.P.1        Respond to nonverbal communication

V.P.2        Correctly use and pronounce med term in healthcare setting

V.P.3        Coach pt's regarding office policy & medical encounters

ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS

VI.P.1.         Manage appointment schedule using established priorities

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

X.P.2.           Apply HIPAA rules in regard to: a. privacy

X.P.3.           Document patient care accurately in the medical record

PROTECTIVE PRACTICES

XII.P.4.     Evaluate an environment to identify unsafe conditions

AFFECTIVE BEHAVIORS

A.1        Demonstrate critical thinking skills

A.2        Reassure patients

A.3        Demonstrate empathy for patients' concerns

A.4        Demonstrate active listening

A.5        Respect diversity

A.6        Recognize personal boundaries

A.7        Demonstrate tactfulness

A.8        Demonstrate self-awareness

The following list outlines the concepts, themes, and issues you need to understand and be able to use appropriately. You will have the opportunity to demonstrate your understanding in written and oral form, individually and in groups.

• ASEPTIC TECHNIQUE AND INFECTION CONTROL

This module will acquaint the student with the importance of cleanliness and asepsis in a medical office. It will help the student develop proficiency in hand washing. It will help the student gain competency in putting on sterile gloves. The student will demonstrate and state the importance of cleanliness and medical asepsis. Perform a cleansing hand wash suitable for between patients. Put on sterile gloves without contaminating them.

• HANDLING OF EQUIPMENT

This module will acquaint the student with various medical/surgical equipment in the medical office. It will help the student develop competency in preparation of equipment for sterilization. It will assist the student in differentiation between instruments which must be sterile and those which must be "clean". The student will identify common medical/surgical instruments and give their uses. Students will prepare items for sterilization and disinfection. The student will decipher which instruments need to be sterilized versus those which can be merely "cleaned".

• INJECTION PROCEDURES

This module gives the student knowledge of and skill in preparing and administering subcutaneous, intramuscular and intradermal injections. The student will understand a physician's order to administer and injection. Prepare an injection from an ampule, single or multiple dose vial. Identify the correct route and site of administration. Administer medication by subcutaneous, intradermal, and intramuscular routes.

• ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY

This module gives the student understanding of the electrocardiograph (ECG), its operation and relationship to the patient. Development of proper technique in obtaining ECG's. An understanding of artifacts, how they relate to the ECG and how to identify and avoid them. Practice performing ECG's in a professional, respectful, and patient-centered manner. Students will receive feedback and grading on three practice ECG's prior to competency. 

• PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

This module will give the student an understanding and competency in visual acuity testing with the Snellen chart. Screening test for color blindness. Screening test for audio perception. Positioning and draping patients for examination. Prepare examination trays and assist the physician as requested.

This module will give the student knowledge of and skill in preparing and /or applying various DME. The student will apply a wrist brace, arm sling and walking boot. Students will then learn and perform best practices for patient education in removing and applying DME.

• DME FITTING / PATIENT EDUCATION

• SPIROMETRY

This module gives the student an understanding of a respiratory test and how to interpret basic spirometry results. The student will perform at least 3 spirometry exams, interpret them correctly and provide the physician with a legible and professional readout.

• CHRONIC CONDITIONS

This module allows students a deeper understanding of clinical considerations for patients with various chronic conditions. Students will critically think while scrubbing patient’s charts as well as learn and perform specific screenings and tests. Students will focus on the following chronic conditions; diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia/heart disease, asthma and depression/mental health.