BTAC 125 - Medical Terminology for Office Administration

Credits: 5
Provide students in-depth coverage of the terminology and the medical language used in healthcare settings and used for medical documentation. Major topics include performing analysis of word parts such as roots, prefixes, suffixes and combining vowel as well as interpreting common abbreviations. Teaches students to accurately spell, pronounce and define common medical terms related to the major organ systems, disease processes, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, laboratory tests and drugs. Not intended for students pursuing clinical degrees.

Prerequisite: Eligible for READ 104, or instructor’s permission.

Course Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this class will be able to:

Identify and define the four major word parts most frequently used with the major body systems and specialties.
Assemble word parts into medical terms associated with each body system.
Define the most common suffixes and prefixes used by the major body systems.
Define the meaning of the major word roots used by the major body systems.
Accurately spell and pronounce medical terms related to anatomy and anatomical positions.
Accurately spell and pronounce medical terms related to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
Accurately spell and pronounce medical terms related to radiology exams, laboratory tests and prescribed drugs.
Define abbreviations related to anatomy, diagnoses and procedures. Define the major terms used for human body orientation, anatomic position and body planes.
Define unfamiliar medical terms by analyzing the word parts and verifying the definition using a medical dictionary.
Use the internet to locate information about specific medical conditions, procedures and research.
Identify and define pathological conditions common to the body systems. Correctly label anatomical diagrams for the major body systems.

Program Outcomes

Accurately spell, pronounce and define common medical terms related to major disease processes, diagnostic procedures, laboratory tests, abbreviations, drugs, and treatment modalities.
Develop an understanding of the structure and function of the healthy human body, diseases and treatment modalities.

College-wide Outcomes

Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
Responsibility - Responsibility encompasses those behaviors and dispositions necessary for students to be effective members of a community. This outcome is designed to help students recognize the value of a commitment to those responsibilities which will enable them to work successfully individually and with others.
Written Communication - Written Communication encompasses all the abilities necessary for effective expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas in written form.