Will we ever find a cure for cancer? What treatments are best for conditions like diabetes and asthma? How are illnesses like meningitis, tuberculosis, and the measles identified and diagnosed? Health sciences provide the answers to questions such as these. In this course, students will be introduced to the various disciplines within the health sciences, including toxicology, clinical medicine, and biotechnology. They will explore the importance of diagnostics and research in the identification and treatment of diseases. The course presents information and terminology for the health sciences and examines the contributions of different health science areas.
Unit 1: The World of Health Sciences
Since ancient times, people have tried to gain a better understanding of diseases and health. They have studied, experimented, and observed in an effort to learn what causes disease, what treatments work best, and how best to promote health. Although the methods of doing so may differ today, we are still applying scientific methods to learn more about health and wellness. In this unit, we will learn more about the field of health science, including some of the history of health sciences and trends in the field.
What will you learn in this unit?
Unit 2: Careers in Health Science
The health sciences include a wide range of career options. Many people are attracted to health science careers in order to help others and to prevent disease and illness. In this unit, we will learn more about some of the career options available in the field of health sciences. We will also consider some of the different levels of patient care in the field and some of the common characteristics shared by health science professionals.
What will you learn in this unit?
Unit 3: The Life Span
Throughout our lives, we experience a number of changes physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. These changes can have an impact on our overall health and wellness. In this unit, we will learn more about the different stages of the human life span and the development that occurs during each stage. In doing so, we will also learn more about health issues that may be related to people’s development at each stage of the life span.
What will you learn in this unit?
Unit 4: Technical Skills
Health science careers often require specialized knowledge and skills. These are important so that health science professionals can effectively help individuals care for their health. In this unit, we will learn more about some of these skills, including checking vital signs, converting measurements, and performing emergency CPR and other actions.
What will you learn in this unit?
Unit 5: Health and Wellness
Cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, stroke; our world sometimes seems like it is full of illness and disease. We spend billions of dollars each year in medical treatments and research into treating these diseases. However, we are not necessarily at the mercy of disease and illness. We can make choices in our lives that lower our risk of illness and disease and make us healthier. In this unit, we will learn more about the area of health and wellness. We’ll discuss preventative medicine and examine some of the alternative and complementary practices that people use to stay healthier and treat conditions that they may encounter.
What will you learn in this unit?
Unit 6: Leadership and Teamwork
For the health sciences to work effectively and efficiently, strong leadership and teamwork needs to be present. In this unit, we will learn more about these two areas, including discussing what makes a person a good leader and what characteristics are shared by effective teams. We’ll also learn more about some of the theories and explanations for why certain people become leaders and the ways in which they lead others.
What will you learn in this unit?
Unit 7: Health Communication
Communication is a vital aspect of the health sciences. By communicating, health science professionals exchange ideas, discuss treatments with patients, and give instructions to other healthcare professionals. In this unit, we will explore health communication and how to make this communication more effective. We’ll learn more about barriers to communication and techniques that healthcare professionals can use to improve communication with patients and other healthcare professionals.
What will you learn in this unit?
Unit 8: Ethics and Legal Issues
The health science field often involves complex situations and decisions. It is also a field where simple mistakes can have devastating consequences. As such, the health sciences intersect with both legal and ethical issues on a regular basis. In this unit, we’ll learn more about some of the legal responsibilities that healthcare professionals have and some of the ethical issues that exist in the health sciences today.
What will you learn in this unit?
Unit 9: Safety
What would you do if a fire started in a hospital? What if you were exposed to bloodborne pathogens? In this unit, we will learn about some of the common risks in the health sciences and how health science professionals can reduce their risks when dealing with these potential dangers. In particular, we will discuss common healthcare risks such as bloodborne pathogens, fires, falls and trips, injuries, infections, and stress.
What will you learn in this unit?
Unit 10: Informatics and Technology
Technology is having a great impact on the world today, including in the health sciences. In this unit, we will consider some of the ways that technology impacts health informatics. We will discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages of electronic health data and records and learn about some of the ways in which technology is changing health communication. We will also discuss the effects that intercultural communication can have on communication and informatics.
What will you learn in this unit?
