MEDICAL SPECIALTIES COURSE LISTING

In as little as 16 months—or take longer if
you wish—you can be on your way to earning a great income working for hospitals, medical offices, nursing homes, home healthcare services, clinics and insurance companies.

You get everything you need to know in easy-to-understand custom textbooks that guide you step by step. We’ll show you exactly what to do and how to do it!

Semester 1 (15 Credit Hours)

Success Strategies—Your first course introduces you to USCI and the world of distance learning. You’ll learn proven strategies for success as an independent learner. In addition, discover how to access the many facets of USCI and meet the faculty and staff.

Introduction to Patient Care—Discover how to care for patients, residents and clients in a professional manner. Access Virtual Labs to visualize real-world scenarios and evaluate how to handle specific situations. In addition, you’ll examine safety precautions and regulations, as well as nutritional guidelines.

Workplace Psychology—Discover the intricacies of industrial/organizational psychology. You’ll learn how personality traits, biology, health, stress and psychological disorders affect human behavior in the workplace.

Introduction to Health Information Technology—This course details the HIT profession and the many career opportunities in this booming industry. Discover the various types of American healthcare systems and facilities. Gain insight into the electronic health record and the data that is integral to the healthcare process.

Applied Business Math—This course provides a solid foundation of business math and basic statistics. You’ll apply these skills in real-world, workplace scenarios.

Medical Terminology—Gain the foundation you need to understand medical terminology. You’ll learn to construct medical terms by identifying word parts and their meanings, then combining them to build medical terms.

 Also Included:

• Medical Terminology Flashcards
• Medical Terminology CD-ROM
• Stedman’s Medical Dictionary with CD-ROM
• Leather Organizer with Cell Holder
• USCI “You Can Do It!” CD
• Virtual Labs and Procedure Guide
  

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Semester 2 (16 Credit Hours)

Billing for Insurance Reimbursement—This course will give you a jumpstart into the insurance world. Study Medicaid, Medicare and other governmental insurance plans, as well as some common private insurance plans. Follow medical records through the billing process. Also learn, step by step, to complete CMS-1500 and UB-92 claims forms.

Computer Applications XP or Computer Applications Vista—Explore the fundamentals of computers, including hardware and software concepts, as well as networking and Internet terminology. Apply your skills using Microsoft® Word, PowerPoint and Excel.

Anatomy and Physiology I—This course presents principles of cell biology, cell chemistry, genetics and organism biology with an emphasis on the body systems.

Anatomy and Physiology II—This course builds on the foundation of Anatomy and Physiology I. You’ll discover each body system in depth and learn how the systems work together.

Business Communications—Develop skills for effective written communication. You’ll learn to produce clear, effective, audience-specific documents.

Medical Office and Records Management—Gain office and records management skills in this course. You’ll learn common electronics and traditional filing techniques. In addition, learn to perform accounts receivable activities and confidentially handle patient information.

Pathology and Disease Processes—Discover what happens to the body when it is sick or injured. You’ll study cell pathology and disease processes related to inflammation and the immune system, as well as the process of neoplasia, genetic diseases and diseases that affect the balance of fluids in the body.

Also Included: 

• Professor Teaches® Microsoft® Office Software
• HIPAA Supplement
• JCAHO and Medicare Supplement
• Electronic Claims Software Demo CD
• Anatomy and Physiology Flashcards
• Anatomy and Physiology CD
• Anatomy and Physiology Review Cards
• Dictionary and Thesaurus Set

Semester 3 (18 Credit Hours)

Pathology and Disease Processes—Discover what happens to the body when it is sick or injured. You’ll study cell pathology and disease processes related to inflammation and the immune system, as well as the process of neoplasia, genetic diseases and diseases that affect the balance of fluids in the body.

Pharmacology—Study medications by body system, and determine how these medications are used to treat disease. Discover routes of administration, as well as drug classification and therapeutic action.

Laboratory Techniques—Experience the laboratory skills that medical assistants need through Virtual Labs. This course features training in equipment, lab safety, blood testing, body fluid specimens and bacterial smears and cultures. This course also contains an introduction to phlebotomy.

Medical Coding I—This course details the International Classification of Diseases Coding Manual (ICD-9-CM) and methods for coding diagnoses. Examine the organization and content of the three-volume manual, and practice coding using real-world scenarios.

Clinical Skills—Use Virtual Labs to experience the clinical skills that medical assistants must have. Acquire skills in first aid, taking vital signs, examining individuals, and assisting with minor surgical procedures and special examinations.

Medical Coding II—Study the final volume of the ICD-9-CM manual, and discover the ins and outs of inpatient coding. Apply these skills in real-world coding scenarios.

Also Included: 

• Pathology Flashcards
• Quick Look Drug Book
• Pharmacology Flashcards
• Virtual Labs and Procedure Guides
  
  

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Semester 4 (15 Credit Hours)

Career Development Strategies—Get your career moving! Improve your interview techniques and create a top-notch resume. This course will teach you everything you need to kick-start your career and land a great job.

Pharmacy Technology—Discover how to help licensed pharmacists provide medication and other healthcare products to patients. Receive prescriptions from doctors and hospitals, prepare prescriptions for patients, and verify insurance and prescription information. Explore how to exhibit pharmacy standards, ethics, laws and regulations, as well as maintain inventory and stock orders.

Procedure Coding—Procedural codes identify the various procedures and services performed for patients. In this course, you’ll learn to use the CPT coding manual to accurately code medical records. Additionally, you’ll learn HCPCS coding.

Advanced Coding and Billing—The course provides real-world practice integrating procedural and diagnostic codes for healthcare services. You’ll combine anatomy and medical terminology knowledge with everything you’ve learned about medical records. You’ll also learn strategies for identifying potential diseases and conditions based on diagnostic tests and prescriptions found in health records.

Law and Ethics for the Healthcare Professional— Gain insight into medical ethics and legal aspects of the medical field—from fraud and compliance issues to HIPAA requirements.

Medical Transcription—Identify the various types of medical reports. Explore transcription techniques and how to handle dictation problems and unfamiliar accents. Complete your medical transcription studies with plenty of practice transcribing and correctly formatting a variety of medical reports.

Also Included:

• Ingenix Encoder Basic Demo Software
• USCI Pen and USCI Stickie Notes
• Medical Transcription Dictation