MC 295 - Laboratory and Pathology I

COURSE OVERVIEW: General study of pathology and human diseases focusing on the common clinical disorders. Course is especially focused toward students who have had prior introduction to basic anatomy and physiology and to guide learning of the basic of human pathologic condition. This course is especially directed to benefit the Medical Diagnostic and Procedure Coding student.

Emphasis for this course will be to provide an orderly approach through the major body systems and selected common clinical disorders/diseases. Each chapter is introduced with a brief review of the normal function of the specific body system with its diseases and the pathologic mechanisms involved.

TIMEFRAME: This is a five-semester hour course. This course is allotted ten weeks of time. You must complete all of the requirements for the course successfully by the end of the ten-week period. The first day of week one will begin the day that you register for the course, or the day which you notify me that your textbook has arrived and you are ready to begin your studies. Please be cognizant of the time frame. Extensions of time are permitted if needed with my and/or departmental approval. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be awarded five semester hours of credit.

Book 1: Essentials of Human Diseases and Conditions, 3rd Edition. Margaret S. Frazier and Jennette W. Drzymkowski. ISBN # 0721602568.

Book 2 (Recommended): Workbook to accompany: Essentials of Human Diseases and Conditions. Margaret Schell Frazier, Teresa Fuqua, Margaret Frazier, Jeanett Drzymkowski. ISBN # 1416000925.

EXAMS: There are two examinations for this course, a mid-term exam and a final exam. Both tests cover material in the textbook, Essentials of Human Diseases and Conditions by Frazier/Drzymkowski. The mid-term covers chapters 1, 14, 3, & 4 and the final covers chapters 5-8.

The mid-term examination must be taken by the end of the 5th week in the course.

Both exams are programmed and are located in the classroom for this course. The examinations are "open book" objective type. You will have one (1) day to complete your exam, once you access it from the classroom. To access the exam, you must send me an email and request to have access to the exam. Upon registration, you will receive your email address. I will then program your access in. You will receive an email back from me telling you that you are now authorized to go ahead and to access your exam. To access, you will come into the classroom, click on testing, and click on the exam you are taking. You will need your User ID and PASSWORD to access the exam. The exam will appear on your screen. Once you access the exam, you have 24 hours to submit your answers. The program provides me the exact date and time that you accessed the exam. The program also notifies me of the exact date and time that you submitted your answers. Thus, the program is timing you. When you are ready, go back into the classroom and click in your responses and then click submit. Shortly, you will receive the exam in your email box with your computed score. You will also know what questions, if any, that you missed, and what the correct answer is. I also receive a copy of your exam and your score.

GRADING SCALE: Letter grades will be determined using the following percentages:

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Your instructor for this course is Dr. Sari Metwalli, MS, MD.

1) MS in Forensic Sciences and Doctor of Medicine (MD).
2) Post-Baccalaureate Studies in Biology-CSUSM (California State University-San Marcos).
3) Current, Lead Medical Assistant Instructor, United Education Institute-Chula Vista, CA.
4) Current, Adjunct Instructor-Medical Coding & Billing Program, University of California-San Diego Extension.
5) Current, Adjunct Professor of Forensic Science, National University-La Jolla, CA.
6) Current, Clinical Assistant Professor/Physician Mentor, International University of Health Sciences- School of Medicine.
7) Current member of American Academy of Forensic Sciences.
8) Certified Medical Assisting Instructor by the State of California.
9) Certified CPR, BLS, and First Aid Instructor by the American Heart Association.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: At the conclusion of this course you will be more prepared for employment as a Health Information Management (HIM) Coding Professional and will be able to:

1). Identify common clinical disorders per diagnostic categories.
2). Verbalize that each human disease/condition studied requires an understanding of the description /definition, signs/symptoms, etiology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
3). Understand how/why medical necessity for patient care is provided and how/why the documentation of such integrates into the role of an HIM Coder.
4). Recognize where in the Medical Record supportive documentation for clinical conditions are typically found.
5). Delineate various lab, imaging, ancillary procedures and/or medications typically administered for the more common clinical disorders.
6). Use text, review basic medical terms and glossary terms relative to clinical disorders by body system studied.
7). Use text, recognize and label diagrams for selected key body structures.

INFORMATION: If you have any questions regarding this program, you may address them to drsarimetwalli@yahoo.com