AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
INTRODUCTION TO HEALTH PROFESSIONS
HPRS 1201/HPRS 1001
Instructor:
Office Phone:
Office Fax:
Email Address:
Office Hours:
Additional staff contact information:
Students with questions about the course should contact their instructor. For other questions regarding the Allied
Health Science Department (ALHS), students may contact:
Gaston Gomez, Administrative Assistant for ALHS
Phone: 512-223-5870
Email: ggomez1@austincc.edu
Course Time and Location:
Synonym/Section #:
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*THE MORE TIME SPENT IN THIS COURSE, THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES OF SUCCESS.*
I.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is an overview of the roles of the various members of the health care system, educational
requirements, and issues affecting the delivery of health care.
II.
PLAN OF INSTRUCTION:
REQUIRED TEXT:
 Joyce Mitchell and Lee Haroun, Introduction to Health Care, 2nd edition, copyright  2006,
Delmar.
 Espinosa Instructor Packet, ISBN#: HPRS1201-7E, 7th Edition
RECOMMENDED WEBSITE
 WWW.EXPLOREHEALTHCAREERS.ORG
REQUIRED SUPPLIES:
 The student is to purchase a 3-ring, 2"-binder for the course to hold course materials and journal
entries.
 1 green scantron for homework assignment
III.
SCAN COMPETANCIES:
Recently, the U.S. Department of Labor established the Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary
Skills (SCANS) to examine the demands of the workplace and whether the nation's students are capable of
meeting those demands.
How SCAN Competencies are incorporated into the Introduction to Health Care course:
1.
Resources:
 Manages time for completing assignments and arriving to class on time.
 Organizes information required for passing examinations.
2.
Interpersonal:
 Participates/speak as a member of a team when completing group assignments.
IV.
3.
Information:
 Acquires and evaluates information presented in lectures.
 Maintains and understands information for exams and class discussions.
4.
Basic Skills:
 Demonstrates ability to read the textbook and assignments.
 Demonstrates ability to write when completing assignments.
 Demonstrates ability to listen to lecture and class discussions.
5.
Thinking Skills:
 Demonstrates ability to make decisions when interpreting vital signs.
 Demonstrates ability to make decisions when discussing case studies on ethical and legal
responsibility.
6.
Personal Qualities
 Demonstrates responsibility through attendance and completing assignments on time.
 Demonstrates honesty when completing assignments and examinations.
7.
Utilizing Technology
 The student should use computer technology to gather information from the Internet to help
facilitate learning and
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGY:
 The class will be in a lecture format, which is to include guest lecturers. Out of respect to the guest
lecturers, class attendance is a MUST and the students should attend class on time.
We need to provide a respectful and a professional environment for our guest lecturers of health
care.

Other learning activities will include group discussions, group work, case studies, critical thinking
exercises, writing, and multiple activities to facilitate the topics discussed in lecture.
V.
COURSE RATIONALE/OBJECTIVES:
This course is an introductory course in health care to discuss various roles of a health care professional.
Issues surrounding the delivery of health care will also be addressed. This course has also been created to
be a major part of the Tech-Prep and early college-start programs at the high school level. The course
would include SCAN objectives that may have not been covered extensively in other program courses. This
is an approved course in WECM.
VI.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1.
Discuss the roles of various health care professionals in the current health care delivery system.
2.
Recall the educational background methods of credentialing and licensing requirements of health
care professions on a state and national level.
3.
Describe the current health care systems and their trends.
4.
Define professionalism.
5.
Identify the rights and responsibilities of being a health care professional.
6.
Identify problem solving skills in a health care situation.
7.
Describe problem solving skills to various health care situations.
8.
Identify legal and ethical responsibilities affecting the practice of health care professionals.
9.
Describe legal and ethical responsibilities affecting the practice of health care professionals.
10.
Discuss the basic concepts of medical terminology including abbreviations and symbols.
11.
Define basic word parts used in medical terminology.
12.
Recognize the principles of Infection Control in health care.
13.
Discuss the principles of healthy lifestyle management for patients and the health care worker.
14.
Identify the vital signs and their normal values.
15.
Discuss the principles of vital signs.
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16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
VII.
Experience obtaining vital signs through practice.
Review the principles of CPR.
Recognize the role of CPR in health care.
Describe behaviors for job success.
Prepare a resume.
Discuss the roles of the health care worker in controlling health care costs.
Discuss the aspects of death and dying.
Recognize that to pursue a career in health care, students should reason, think critically, make
decisions, communicate effectively, and solve problems through case studies.
Recognize that quality health care depends on the ability to work well with others, and to develop
the characteristics of an effective team member.
Described the personal qualities required for those who hope to pursue a career in the health care
profession.
Assess individual interests and aptitudes to determine if they are well suited for a career in the
health care profession.
COURSE EVALUATION:
A) Examinations
 Three examinations are required. A grade must be recorded for each of these exams for the student
to receive a final course grade.
 The examinations will represent 300 points or 49% of the total course grade.
 Examination format will vary. There may be multiple choice, word analysis, true-false,
abbreviations, symbols, and matching questions.
 No make-up examinations will be given unless prior arrangements are made and/or extreme
circumstances exist at the scheduled time of the examination. The instructor will consider these
circumstances after talking with the student.
 No retakes on any unit examinations will be allowed.
 It is the student's responsibility to take the examinations by the scheduled deadlines. Refer to the
attached proposed study and testing schedule.
B) Outside/Inside Class Assignments
Please refer to the handout labeled Outside Class Assignment and the two Inside Class
Assignments noted on assignments page attached for more details. This represents 80 points of
course grade or 13%.
C) Journal of Health Professionals
The student is to keep a journal entry for all the guest speakers, which come to class for their
future references. Students will either keep a Regular Journal entry or a special journal entry per
guest lecture. The special journal blank forms will be included in your packet. There must be one
entry for each guest lecturer, either a regular or special. The type of journal entry will be
announced and indicated on your schedule for the course. Each journal entry will reflect
attendance for that day. Attendance is a must, or a zero for that day will be recorded. No makeups. The journal entry is due the very next day following the guest lecturer for credit. No late will
be accepted.
This section will represent 61 points or 10% of the total course grade and attendance for that day.
D) Group Work Projects
There will be designated days (see schedule) for group work to discuss and reinforce certain topics
mentioned in lecture. (Approximately three days.) Participation and attendance will be reflected on
this day.
This will represent 80 points or 13% of the total course grade. There will be no make-ups for
group/skills workdays.
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E) Homework
Homework’s will be assigned to re-enforce concepts mentioned in lecture. This will represent 45
points or --7% of course grade. Late homework will only be accepted one class day pass the due
date.
F) Attendance
Attendance will be worth 40 points or 6% of the course grade. For each day missed you will lose one
point from this grade section. Important to note: several absences could bring your grade down a letter
grade.
VIII.
GRADING:
EXAMS:
 Exam material will be based on all lecture material and all assigned exercises.
 The student is responsible for the material in the text even though that material may not be
covered in class.
 All exams and graded answer sheets will be retained by the instructor. Any student who removes a
graded examination from the classroom may receive a zero for that examination. All graded
examinations must be turned back into the instructor prior to leaving the classroom.
GRADE SCHEME:
606-543 (90-100)
542-482 (80-89)
481-421 (70-70)
420-361 (60-69)
<360 (<59)
=A
=B
=C
=D
=F
A minimum grade of “C” will be accepted by Health Science Programs at Austin Community College.
IX.
COURSE POLICIES:
1. Discipline Policies
Attendance/Class Participation
If attendance or compliance with other course policies is unsatisfactory, the instructor may
withdraw students from the class.
Withdrawal Policy
Students are responsible for withdrawing themselves from class. Students who do not progress
satisfactorily, and do not keep up with the deadlines are responsible for their withdrawal. If the
student is failing and does not withdraw, the student will be assigned an F.
Students who enroll for the third or subsequent time in a course taken since Fall, 2002, may be
charged a higher tuition rate, for that course.
State law permits students to withdraw from no more than six courses during their entire
undergraduate career at Texas public colleges or universities. With certain exceptions, all course
withdrawals automatically count towards this limit. Details regarding this policy can be found in
the ACC college catalog.
The last day for withdrawal: Check college calendar for this information each semester
Missed or Late Work
The students needs to keep up with the schedule, tests, and due dates as this is very essential in
order to become a responsible health practitioner.
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Assignments turned in after the due date will be penalized 5 points per class day no matter what
the circumstances may be. Assignments will not be accepted one week from their due dates. No
exceptions.
Incompletes
Incompletes are given at the discretion of the instructor if the student if the student has completed
two exams with passing grades. An instructor may award a grade of “I” (Incomplete) if a student
was unable to complete all of the objectives for the passing grade in a course. An incomplete grade
cannot be carried beyond the established date in the following semester. The completion date is
determined by the instructor but may not be later than the final deadline for withdrawal in the
subsequent semester.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
Students at the college have the rights accorded by the U.S. Constitution to freedom of speech,
peaceful assembly, petition, and association. These rights carry with them the responsibility to
accord the same rights to others in the college community and not to interfere with or disrupt the
educational process. Opportunity for students to examine and question pertinent data and
assumptions of a given discipline, guided by the evidence of scholarly research, is appropriate in a
learning environment. This concept is accompanied by an equally demanding concept of
responsibility on the part of the student. As willing partners in learning, students must comply
with college rules and procedures.
Students are expected to participate appropriately in the classroom. This includes, but not limited
to helping with exercises, demonstrations, and asking clarifying questions. Inappropriate
participation which includes, but not limited to talking during lecture, use of cell phone, and
interrupting others may disrupt the learning process and is subject to disciplinary action.
Disciplinary action may include a discussion with the instructor for the first offense, a discipline
referral to the Dean of student services for a repeated offense, a meeting with the Department
Chair of Allied Health Sciences or Dean of Health Sciences, and possible removal from the
course. Please refer to http://www.austincc.edu/current/needtoknow for additional information.
2.
Academic Dishonesty
Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty,
including but not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration
with another in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of
their thought, research or self-expression. Academic work is defined as, but not limited to tests,
quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom
presentations, and homework.
The penalty for academic dishonesty is an automatic failing grade of “F” in the course.
See the Student Standards of Conduct and Disciplinary Process and other policies at
http://www.austincc.edu/current/needtoknow.
3.
Students with Disabilities
Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological
disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office for
Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes.
Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester.
Additional information about the Office for Students with Disabilities is available at
http://www.austincc.edu/support/osd/.
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4.
Safety Statement
Austin Community College is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for study and
work. You are expected to learn and comply with ACC environmental, health and safety procedures
and agree to follow ACC safety policies. Additional information on these can be found at
http://www.austincc.edu/ehs. Because some health and safety circumstances are beyond our control,
we ask that you become familiar with the Emergency Procedures poster and Campus Safety Plan map
in each classroom. Additional information about emergency procedures and how to sign up for ACC
Emergency Alerts to be notified in the event of a serious emergency can be found at
http://www.austincc.edu/emergency/.
Please note, you are expected to conduct yourself professionally with respect and courtesy to all.
Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another individual will
be dismissed from the day’s activity, may be withdrawn from the class, and/or barred from attending
future activities.
You are expected to conduct yourself professionally with respect and courtesy to all. Anyone who
thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another individual will be immediately
dismissed from the day’s activity, may be withdrawn from the class, and/or barred from attending
future activities.
5.
X.
Use of ACC email
All College e-mail communication to students will be sent solely to the student’s ACCmail account,
with the expectation that such communications will be read in a timely fashion. ACC will send
important information and will notify you of any college related emergencies using this account.
Students should only expect to receive email communication from their instructor using this account.
Likewise, students should use their ACCmail account when communicating with instructors and staff.
Instructions for activating an ACCmail account can be found at
http://www.austincc.edu/accmail/index.php.
OTHER MISC. INFORMATION:

Please turn off cell phones and pagers when in class.
Student concerns: “Any student who has a complaint involving the course should first attempt to
resolve the matter with the instructor directly involved. If the student is unable to resolve the complaint
with the instructor, the student must follow the Student Complaint Procedure, found at
http://www.austincc.edu/current/needtoknow, in an attempt to resolve the matter.”

Per ACC policies, children will not be allowed to attend classes under any circumstances.

Not everybody knows everything there is to know about health care related issues, therefore, there will
be times when reference books are needed and questions asked will be answered next class period, if
there is even any information on the topic proposed.

My class notes will NOT be available to the students for copying.

Student and Instructional Services
ACC strives to provide exemplary support to its students and offers a broad variety of opportunities
and services. Information on these services and support systems is available at:
http://www.austincc.edu/s4/
Links to many student services and other information can be found at:
http://www.austincc.edu/current/
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ACC Learning Labs provide free tutoring services to all ACC students currently enrolled in the course
to be tutored. The tutor schedule for each Learning Lab may be found at:
http://www.austincc.edu/tutor/students/tutoring.php
For help setting up your ACCeID, ACC Gmail, or ACC BlackBoard, see a Learning Lab Technician at
any ACC Learning Lab.
XI.
COURSE CALENDAR
The course outline/calendar for each individual faculty members’ course can be found in lighthouse or
on Blackboard by the first day of class
XII.
HINTS FOR SUCCESS





Keep up with the material. Do not get behind.
Attend class every day to benefit from the learning experience.
This is a class that is going to be very beneficial to you once you are in your desired program and
profession.
REMEMBER . . . You have an instructor who is willing to help you during established office hours if
you need some extra assistance.
The student is encouraged to come during office hours to go over exams.
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