Amber O'Connell's ID Portfolio
Navigation links: ETAP 623 Fall 2024 | Amber O'Connell's mini-course: Learning Medical Terminology
About Me
I currently teach in a radiologic technology program at Hudson Valley Community College. I graduated with my associate's degree in allied health in radiologic technology in 2016. In 2020, I graduated from Excelsior University with a degree in Health Sciences. I am currently working toward my degree in curriculum development and instructional design at UAlbany.
My Topic and Purposes.
This mini-course is a short course in learning medical terminology; common prefixes, suffixes, and root words, and learning how to combine these components to create common medical terms. I chose this topic because of its relevancy to many courses designed for healthcare professionals. Current students, incoming healthcare degree students, and instructors teaching in healthcare degree programs can benefit from this mini-course.
Scope of Learning Outcomes and Content
The scope of learning outcomes for this short course in medical terminology is meant for students and professionals entering healthcare-related fields. This course will focus on equipping learners (students and professionals entering the healthcare field) with the foundational knowledge necessary to effectively understand, use, and apply medical terminology in their practice.
Instructors, I have included activities best suited for students to complete within the classroom, either collaboratively or independently.
Needs Assessment
Educational Problem
Instruction of healthcare related topics include the use of medical terms. Use and understanding of this terminology is important when discussing patient care and other healthcare topics. Teaching healthcare topics to students without prior medical terminology knowledge poses several challenges. Students and professionals entering the field may struggle to understand key concepts without foundational knowledge of medical terminology, leading to confusion and misinformation. Students may be unable to break down complex terms into understandable components, hindering their ability to learn and retain new information. Healthcare professionals must communicate effectively with peers, patients, and other medical professionals. Lack of medical terminology knowledge can limit this communication, leading to misunderstandings, and even misdiagnosis for patients. Additionally, Without familiarity with proper terminology, students may struggle to apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios, limiting their critical thinking abilities in real-world situations.
The Learners
Students in their first semester of the radiologic technology program were surveyed/quizzed through the college's LMS on basic medical terminology knowledge. There were 38 students that participated in the survey.
Analysis of Gaps
The survey consisted of 25 questions on the basics of medical terminology. Sufficient knowledge of basic medical terminology was determined by an 85% or greater on the basic knowledge quiz/survey. Of 38 students who took the test, only 6 received an 85% or better on their first attempt. Considering medical terminology is a required prerequisite course prior to any healthcare-related program, many students struggle with retaining medical terminology knowledge. In addition to students entering academic programs without prior foundational terminology knowledge, new professionals entering the medical field may also need a refresher course in medical terminology.
Intent Statement
Knowledge of how to construct and deconstruct medical terms is foundational to college-level healthcare degree programs and to professionals working in the healthcare field. This course is intended to guide learners to foundational knowledge by focusing on activites and assessments that mimic real clinical scenarios. By incorporating real-world activities, students focus on learning how medical terminology functions as a language instead of relying on rote memorization.
Performance-Based Objectives
After completing this mini-course, learners will be able to:
- Accurately identify and define prefixes, roots, and suffixes commonly used in medical terminology.
- Combine common word parts to construct medical terms.
- Deconstruct medical terms to understand their meaning.
- Analyze and interpret patient medical records.
Task and Content Analysis
Unit 1: Foundations and body organization
Objectives:
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of basic medical word parts: prefixes, suffixes, and roots/combining forms by accurately defining and constructing medical terms in both written and spoken formats.
- Apply correct pronunciation and spelling of medical terminology in discussions, presentations, and written assignments, showing a strong foundational knowledge of basic and common terms.
- Analyze and describe the human body's organization, including anatomical planes, positions, and regions, using appropriate terminology during interactive activities and assessments.
Unit 2: Terminology by system - Part 1
Musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems
Objectives:
- Apply knowledge of medical terminology specific to the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems to construct and deconstruct terms in case studies, demonstrating understanding through written and verbal explanations.
- Identify and explain diseases, conditions, and procedures relevant to these systems, using accurate terminology in patient case analyses and collaborative projects.
- Integrate learned terminology into realistic scenarios, such as mock patient reports or charts, to demonstrate practical understanding of the language used in medical settings.
Unit 3: Terminology by system - Part 2
Digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems
Objectives:
- Display a broad understanding of medical terms related to the digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems by interpreting and creating detailed patient scenarios and reports.
- Combine knowledge of word parts to accurately form and define complex medical terms related to these systems during activities and assignments.
- Analyze and interpret medical records and documents that include terminology related to these systems, demonstrating comprehension and the ability to communicate findings effectively.
Unit 4: Terminology by system - Part 3 and Comprehensive review
Endocrine & nervous systems
Objectives:
- Demonstrate an integrated understanding of terminology for the endocrine and nervous systems by applying it to case studies and role playing activities, showcasing the ability to explain medical conditions and their relevance.
- Review and synthesize terminology from all studied systems to solve complex case studies and respond to patient scenarios, illustrating critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the context of medical language.
- Communicate complex medical information clearly and effectively, using accurate terminology during oral presentations, written assignments, and evaluations.
- Create and present comprehensive case studies that incorporate terminology from various systems, demonstrating a holistic understanding of medical language and its application in healthcare documentation and communication.
Evaluation methods:
Written and oral assessments - quizzes
Collaborative projects, building/deconstructing patient records/charts, building terms
Practical scenarios and patient case studies
Curriculum Map
