Health Sciences Courses

This course introduces students in the School of Health Sciences pathway to the healthcare profession and various careers in medicine, nursing, and allied health. Topics include historical and modern contexts of healthcare, healthcare occupations, ethical considerations for healthcare professionals, and an information related to the various health sciences programs offered at Columbia Basin College.

This course emphasizes effective written, verbal, and non-verbal communication, ensuring optimal patient interactions. Students will learn about patient education, the nuances of medical law and ethics, and the foundational aspects of medical records, including an introduction to electronic medical records. Additional topics include administrative tasks such as appointment scheduling, coordinating outpatient procedures, managing patient referrals, and effectively utilizing electronic medical records in a modern healthcare context.

Building on foundational knowledge of the medical office environment, this course delves deeper into the intricacies of medical office operations. Students will explore the basics of medical coding and billing, gaining insight into the reimbursement process. In tandem, the course introduces essential computer skills and familiarizes students with the Microsoft Office Suite, emphasizing practical applications in a medical office setting. To ensure a holistic approach to career preparedness, students are also equipped with job-seeking strategies tailored to healthcare administration.

Formerly HSCI 122, MRHI 195

An immersive clinical experience, HSCI 122 offers students a hands-on opportunity to apply their academic knowledge within real-world medical office settings. With 165 contact hours, students will engage directly with healthcare professionals and patients, gaining invaluable insights and skills in day-to-day operations, patient interactions, and administrative responsibilities. Whether in a medical office or a related healthcare facility, this clinical placement ensures students are well-prepared for their roles as medical office specialists, merging theory with practice.

Formerly AOT 147, HIT 147, HSCI 147

Provides a basic background of medical terminology for the medical office. Major topics to be studied are: cells and oncology, tissues and the integumentary system, skeletal system, muscular system, nervous system, special senses, glands, cardiovascular system; blood and lymphatic-immune systems, respiratory system; digestive system; urinary system, reproductive system, pregnancy and human development; general diseases, lab tests, diagnoses, surgery, pharmacology, and therapy. Emphasis is placed on identifying and labeling word parts, defining and building medical terms, basic anatomy, and becoming familiar with common diseases of the systems.

Formerly HSCI 148, SPAN 281

The Spanish Medical Interpreting program is a sequential, three-quarter vocational certificate program, consisting of Spanish Medical Interpreting I, II, and III. The program prepares students for state or national medical interpreter certification and to enter the workforce as professional, ethical, and competent healthcare interpreters. Students are introduced to healthcare interpreting as a profession, concepts and relevant terminology in biomedicine, and given opportunities to develop foundational skills in healthcare interpreting. Topics include: International code of ethics and its application, language access laws, HIPAA, interpreting modalities and protocols, basic note-taking skills, self-evaluation, glossary building and intervention techniques. This course is cross-listed with SPAN 281. Students completing HSCI 148 may not receive graduation credit for SPAN 281.

Formerly HSCI 149, SPAN 282

The Spanish Medical Interpreting program is a sequential, three-quarter vocational certificate program, consisting of Spanish Medical Interpreting I, II, and III. The program prepares students for state or national medical interpreter certification and to enter the workforce as professional, ethical, and competent healthcare interpreters. Students are introduced to healthcare interpreting as a profession, concepts and relevant terminology in biomedicine, and given opportunities to develop foundational skills in healthcare interpreting. This course builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in SPAN 281/HSCI 148. Topics include: National code of ethics and standards of practice, ethical decision-making, basic medical prefixes, roots and suffixes, note-taking and sight translation skills, interpreter positioning, language and communication dynamics, and the role of the interpreter in health equity. This course is cross-listed with SPAN 282. Students completing HSCI 149 may not receive graduation credit for SPAN 282.

Formerly HSCI 150, SPAN 283

The Spanish Medical Interpreting program is a sequential, three-quarter vocational certificate program, consisting of Spanish Medical Interpreting I, II, and III. The program prepares students for state or national medical interpreter certification and to enter the workforce as professional, ethical, and competent healthcare interpreters. Students are introduced to healthcare interpreting as a profession, concepts and relevant terminology in biomedicine, and given opportunities to develop foundational skills in healthcare interpreting. This course builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in Spanish Medical Interpreting II. This course provides students with guided interpreting practice. Topics include: State code of ethics, abbreviations in healthcare, the concepts of patient advocacy, communicative autonomy, cultural brokering and responsiveness, and business practices in the industry. This course is cross-listed with SPAN 283. Students completing HSCI 150 may not receive graduation credit for SPAN 283.

A class used to explore new coursework.

This course provides an in-depth exploration of addiction, encompassing its biological, psychological, and social components. Students will delve into the pharmacological effects of various substances, understanding their impact on the brain and behavior. The course also covers theories of addiction, examining how different disciplines approach the concept of addiction, and the various factors that contribute to substance use disorders

This course focuses on the diverse treatment methodologies and effective counseling strategies for individuals with substance use disorders. Emphasis is placed on developing practical counseling skills, both for individual and group settings. Students will explore evidence-based treatment methods, learn to tailor interventions to client needs, and gain insights into the dynamics of the therapeutic relationship in addiction treatment.

Addressing the vital role of cultural competence in substance use disorder counseling, this course explores the impact of cultural diversity in treatment settings. Students will learn about effective strategies for working with diverse populations, including an understanding of HIV/AIDS interventions. The course emphasizes the importance of culturally responsive care and the development of skills to work effectively across various cultural contexts.

This course is designed to equip students with essential clinical skills for effective substance use disorder evaluation and treatment. Topics include comprehensive service coordination, advanced clinical documentation techniques, and application of various screening and assessment tools. Students will learn to formulate detailed treatment plans and develop competency in managing complex cases in substance use disorder counseling.

Focusing on the ethical and legal frameworks governing substance use disorder counseling, this course covers the principles of confidentiality, professional responsibilities, and regulatory compliance. Students will engage with case studies to understand the application of ethical codes and legal requirements, preparing them to navigate the complexities of professional practice in this field.

This course covers the intersection of psychopathology with substance use disorders, focusing on common co-occurring mental health conditions and strategies for relapse prevention. Students will learn to apply psychological theories to addiction, design interventions for co-occurring disorders, and develop comprehensive relapse prevention plans tailored to individual needs.

This course offers insights into effective case management practices and the design of community education programs focused on substance use disorders. Students will explore approaches to adolescent-specific treatment needs and coordinate with community resources for comprehensive care. The course emphasizes the development of skills for effective intervention and education strategies to support individuals and communities affected by substance use disorders.

This course is an elective credit for on-the-job firefighting training and experience.

A class used to explore new coursework.

This course presents foundational knowledge of public health, including historical contributions, ethical and moral concepts, organizational structure, and societal, environmental, and behavioral factors that impact health and community health outcomes.

This course explores basic concepts of epidemiology within multiple dimensions of healthcare. Topics include population health, disease and prevention, distributions of diseases, and evaluation of public health data.

This course examines the leadership characteristics and competencies required to plan and implement effective community health programs and systems that meet the needs of diverse populations of patients, individuals, and stakeholders.

This course explores health policy and the impact of government on healthcare delivery and access.

This course helps students understand and respond to health discrepancies and issues of health access that persist among vulnerable populations. Students will explore cultural and behavioral factors that influence the management and delivery of community health services.

This course prepares students to promote health and prevent disease among members of the community through educational efforts and programs that respond to factors influencing the multi-dimensional aspects of health.

This course explores the various organizations and patient care settings in which health services are delivered and analyzes related purposes, general function, delivery methods, and legal/ethical issues.

In this course, students will demonstrate their cumulative knowledge in the community health field by designing and implementing a project with a focus on high-level inquiry.