Health Sciences, BSIS

CAPS-HCARE 1030 Introduction to Health Professions

This course is an introduction to various healthcare professions. The course will explore a brief history and overview of the US healthcare system while giving students a survey of the various health professions available and pathways into those fields. Through career exploration, students will be provided with a framework to explore healthcare professions and focus their career goals. Students will learn through lecture, readings, videos, and visiting professionals.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Summer 3, Spring, Fall, Summer

CAPS-HCARE 1040 Introduction to Human Body Systems

This course is designed for students who are currently functioning in healthcare or those who plan to enter the allied health workforce (e.g., medical transcription, medical coding, nursing assistant, etc.), to provide an overview of anatomy, physiology, and basic pathology.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Summer 3, Summer, Spring Half B, Spring Half A, Spring, Fall Half B, Fall Half A, Fall

CAPS-HCARE 1996 Health Care Elective

The course number to be used for transfer credit, only.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall Intersession, Summer Intersession, Summer 4, Summer 3, Summer 2, Summer 1, Summer, Spring Half B, Spring Half A, Spring, Spring Intersession, Fall Half B, Fall Half A, Fall

CAPS-HCARE 2400 Medical Terminology and Language

This course provides a broad survey of the language of medicine and health terminologies. Students learn to accurately spell and define common medical terms related to major disease processes, diagnostic procedures, laboratory tests, abbreviations, drugs, and treatment modalities. Emphasis is placed on word formation, definition, and correct pronunciation.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Summer 3, Spring, Fall, Summer

CAPS-HCARE 2510 Medical Billing I

Medical Billing I is the first part of a two-course series that provides essential training on the core principles of medical billing. This fully online series prepares participants to navigate working in the health insurance industry, address legal and regulatory issues, and understand the differences in reimbursement methodologies. Students will gain experience in proper claim form preparation, submission, and payment processing and tracking, thus equipping them with the skills needed to support financial operations in clinics, physicians' offices, and other healthcare settings. The Medical Billing series is strongly recommended for individuals preparing for the AAPC Certified Professional Biller (CPB®) exam, and will help students prepare for a career in a medical billing department at a physician’s office, clinic, or similar position.
Prior knowledge of medical terminology and anatomy is strongly recommended. "Medical Terminology and Language" and "Human Body Systems" courses are also available through WashU CAPS.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring Half B, Spring Half A, Summer 3, Fall Half B, Fall Half A

CAPS-HCARE 2511 Medical Billing II

Medical Billing II is the second part of a two-course series that provides essential training on the core principles of medical billing. This fully online series prepares participants to navigate working in the health insurance industry, address legal and regulatory issues, and understand the differences in reimbursement methodologies. Students will gain experience in proper claim form preparation, submission, and payment processing and tracking, thus equipping them with the skills needed to support financial operations in clinics, physicians' offices, and other healthcare settings. The Medical Billing series is strongly recommended for individuals preparing for the AAPC Certified Professional Biller (CPB®) exam, and will help students prepare for a career in a medical billing department at a physician’s office, clinic, or similar position.
Prior knowledge of medical terminology and anatomy is strongly recommended. "Medical Terminology and Language" and "Human Body Systems" courses are also available through WashU CAPS.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring Half B, Spring Half A, Summer 3, Fall Half B, Fall Half A, Summer

CAPS-HCARE 2515 Medical Coding I

Medical Coding I is the first part of a two-course series that provides essential training in the foundational principles of medical coding. This fully online series introduces students to the structure and use of the three primary code books: CPT®, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II. Participants will gain experience interpreting and applying medical codes in compliance with current standards and regulations, preparing them for entry-level roles in physicians' offices and similar healthcare settings. This program is strongly recommended for individuals planning to take the AAPC Certified Professional Coder (CPC®) exam and those pursuing a career in medical coding. Prior knowledge of medical terminology and anatomy is strongly recommended. "Medical Terminology and Language" and "Human Body Systems" courses are also available through WashU CAPS.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring Half B, Spring Half A, Summer 3, Fall Half B, Fall Half A, Summer

CAPS-HCARE 2516 Medical Coding II

Medical Coding II is the second part of a two-course series that provides essential training in the foundational principles of medical coding. This fully online series introduces students to the structure and use of the three primary code books: CPT®, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II. Participants will gain experience interpreting and applying medical codes in compliance with current standards and regulations, preparing them for entry-level roles in physicians' offices and similar healthcare settings. This program is strongly recommended for individuals planning to take the AAPC Certified Professional Coder (CPC®) exam and those pursuing a career in medical coding.
Prior knowledge of medical terminology and anatomy is strongly recommended. "Medical Terminology and Language" and "Human Body Systems" courses are also available through WashU CAPS.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring Half B, Spring Half A, Summer 3, Fall Half B, Fall Half A, Summer

CAPS-HCARE 2600 Readings in Social Work: Addressing Trauma

FOR PEP STUDENTS, ONLY. This interdisciplinary course explores both historical and contemporary research on trauma and its immediate and long-term effects. Students in this course will explore biological and psychological consequences of trauma, develop skills in differentiating forms of trauma, and evaluate contemporary research on evidence-based responses to trauma designed to support vulnerable populations and to help create trauma-informed practices in education, healthcare, and other industries.

Credit 1 unit. UColl: SSC

Typical periods offered: Spring

CAPS-HCARE 3002 Independent Study in Health Care

For undergraduates. Requires completed Independent Study Proposal Form, permission from CAPS.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall Intersession, Summer 3, Spring, Summer Intersession, Spring Intersession, Fall

CAPS-HCARE 3020 Legal Issues in Health Care Management

This course offers an overview of the most important legal issues currently facing hospitals, physicians, and other health care organizations. We will study the Affordable Care Act, liability for data breaches under HIPAA /HITECH (the health privacy laws), False Claims Act and whistleblower suits (for Medicaid and Medicare fraud), laws governing physician-hospital relationships (the Stark Law and Anti-Kickback laws), labor and employment issues, mergers and antitrust law, medical malpractice and tort reform, and scope of practice laws.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

CAPS-HCARE 3025 Introduction to Public Health

This introduction to the field of public health examines the philosophy, history, organization, functions, activities, and results of public health research and practice. Case studies include infectious and chronic diseases, mental health, maternal and reproductive health, food safety and nutrition, environmental health, and global public health. Students are encouraged to look at health issues from a systemic and population-level perspective, and to think critically about health systems and problems, especially health disparities and health care delivery to diverse populations.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Spring

CAPS-HCARE 3035 Health Care Finance

The magnitude of healthcare expenditures is a growing problem for providers and patients. This course, for current or future healthcare managers, covers fundamental tools, concepts, and applications of finance in healthcare organizations that produce cost-effective, efficient operations. Students examine how expenditure control is influenced by individuals, governmental institutions, and newly formed insurance exchanges. The class also studies how healthcare organizations maximize revenue sources. The course explores the relation between market behavior, financial efficiency, and quality in healthcare organizations, and how these factors affect an organization's survival and growth in the changing healthcare environment.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall

CAPS-HCARE 3040 Health Care Policy

This course examines important and complex developments in contemporary health care policy. Learners begin with a historical overview, then look at the structure of current health care delivery and identify political and economic challenges moving forward. In particular, the class will critically examine methods and principles for evaluating health care costs and measuring policy effectiveness. The course also addresses unintended consequences of health care policies, special interests and political agendas, and the influence of major institutional forces on clinical and translational research. Case studies and guest speakers will help illustrate current ethical dilemmas and other real challenges to contemporary health care and reform.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Summer 3, Spring, Fall, Summer

CAPS-HCARE 3048 Bioscience for Business

This course is ideal for persons with business backgrounds that want to achieve a deeper understanding of the technologies and principals upon which their businesses depend. It will explore, at a practical and introductory level, the issues, concepts and processes of bioscience / molecular biology as related to the biotechnology industry. The course is divided into three sections; the first section, devoted to basic science, will explore Mendelian inheritance, genes, intracellular information flow related to protein synthesis, protein synthesis, and genomics and proteomics. The second section, devoted to applied science, will explore gene splicing, gene delivery, cell culture, proteins and nucleic acids as products, and commercial outsourcing. The third section, devoted to current topics, will explore stem cells, product licensing, new product forecasting, the promise of gene therapy, and genetically modified organisms as they pertain to food sources. The instructor, along with other experienced personnel, will teach the basics of biology as they relate to the biotechnology industry including techniques to produce protein and nucleic acid products. The class will explore related current topics, including licensing and methods of new product forecasting.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Summer 3, Spring

CAPS-HCARE 3055 Systematic Literature Review and Medical Regulatory Writing

Medical devices are critical for patient care and public health, so companies must comply with extensive regulations to ensure the safety, efficacy, and performance of these devices. Medical device companies are expected to demonstrate that their devices perform as intended using data from well-designed clinical trials and “real-world evidence.” Given the expense of conducting clinical trials, real-world evidence is increasingly important for companies seeking to demonstrate the safety and performance of their medical device. This course, Systematic Literature Review and Medical Regulatory Writing, is designed to equip students with the necessary skills to conduct comprehensive literature reviews and produce high-quality summary reports of the state-of-the-art for medical devices. This course is ideal for individuals pursuing careers in medical research, clinical trials, medical regulatory writing, and related fields. It is recommended that students have a background in medical sciences or a related field, basic understanding of research methodologies, and a desire to gain proficiency in academic writing.
 

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Summer 3, Spring

CAPS-HCARE 3064 Healthcare Entrepreneurship

Healthcare entrepreneurs improve the overall quality of healthcare delivery. This course introduces students to the particular characteristics of healthcare entrepreneurship, focusing on the creation, funding, and management of biotechnology and health services enterprises. Students will learn the steps involved in the conceptualization, planning, capitalization, launch, compensation, and management of an entrepreneurial healthcare venture. Students will use course principles and skills to develop an entrepreneurial business plan that addresses a real clinical problem.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Summer 3, Spring

CAPS-HCARE 3080 Race Matters! How Race and Racism Affect Health and Medicine

This course grapples with the relationships among race, racism, health, and medicine, both in the United States and abroad. It examines the historical roots of medical racism, the role of medical and genetic research in constructing and deconstructing race as a biological concept, and the ways that systemic racism harms health. This course will also consider how race operates with other intersecting social and political identities (e.g., ethnicity, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, class, disability) to influence health outcomes. Although anthropological and critical race theories will frame our learning, we will read broadly across other disciplines, including (but not limited to) sociology, the history of medicine, law, public health, and science and technology studies.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Summer 3, Spring

CAPS-HCARE 3100 Balancing Precision Medicine and Public Health

FOR PEP STUDENTS, ONLY. In this course, students will extend their knowledge base in basic biology in order to develop foundations in human genomics and its applications in health, wellness, medicine, and healthcare. Having a strong foundation in genomics, students will be challenged to understand, analyze, and critique the current state of precision medicine. Students will also explore its future, employing both rigorous critical analysis frameworks and creative approaches. In parallel, this course will develop foundations in public health that are rooted in history, theory, and practice. Students will be challenged to examine how precision medicine approaches might support or undermine the goals of public health and to consider the possibility of precision public health.

Credit 3 units. UColl: NSC

Typical periods offered: Fall

CAPS-HCARE 3145 Compassion Cultivation Training

Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) is an 8-week educational program designed to help you cultivate compassion, strengthen your resilience, feel more connected to others, and improve your overall sense of well-being. CCT is a distillation from Tibetan Mahyana Buddhist practices for developing compassion, adapted to a secular setting. Initially developed by Stanford University scholars with support from the Dalai Lama, CCT combines traditional contemplative practices with contemporary psychology and scientific research. The program involves instruction in a series of meditation practices starting with mindfulness-based meditation. The curriculum uses modern concepts of psychology and neuroscience to understand and enhance our ability to be compassionate.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Spring Half B, Spring Half A, Summer 3, Summer Intersession, Fall Half B, Fall Half A

CAPS-HCARE 3160 Transnational Reproductive Health Issues: Meanings, Technologies and Practices

This course covers recent scholarship on gender and reproductive health, including such issues as reproduction and the disciplinary power of the state, contested reproductive relations within families and communities, and the implications of global flows of biotechnology, population, and information for reproductive strategies at the local level. We will also explore how transnational migration and globalization have shaped reproductive health, the diverse meanings associated with reproductive processes, and decisions concerning reproduction. Reproduction will serve as a focus to illuminate the cultural politics of gender, power, and sexuality.

Credit 3 units. Art: SSC BU: BA UColl: CD, ML

Typical periods offered: Fall, Summer 3, Spring

CAPS-HCARE 4010 Biotech Entrepreneurship Seminar

This course provides technically-trained students with a comprehensive introduction to the principles and practices of entrepreneurship within the biotechnology sector. Designed for individuals with a background in science, engineering, or other technical fields, the course bridges the gap between technical expertise and entrepreneurial knowledge. Students will explore the process of starting and growing a biotech company, including identifying commercial opportunities, developing business models, and navigating regulatory landscapes.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Summer 3, Spring, Fall, Summer

CAPS-HCARE 4011 Biotech Entrepreneurship Seminar II

This course provides technically-trained students with a comprehensive introduction to the principle and practices of entrepreneurship within the biotechnology sector. Designed for individuals with a background in science, engineering, or other technical fields, the course bridges the gap between technical expertise and entrepreneurial knowledge. Students will explore the process of starting and growing a biotech company, including identifying commercial opportunities, developing financial models, and pursuing dilutive capital.

Credit 1 unit.

Typical periods offered: Spring

CAPS-HCARE 4023 Healthcare Entrepreneurship

The emergence of rapid innovation and prototyping of new products and services in Healthcare has opened the door to an entirely new generation of Entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial thinkers. No longer is the healthcare ecosystem completely controlled by legacy juggernauts fueled by institutional buyers. Rather, today we have healthcare consumerism that is rapidly focusing on individuals as the industry and government work to empower greater access to care. This course will introduce students to a historical approach to entrepreneurship, and provide a framework to analyze opportunities for new product or services development in healthcare. We will explore both the complexity of the industry and expose students to the necessary fact that many times novel solutions are but a component to a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to care, and enable students to understand how their novel solutions might fit into that care ecosystem. Preliminary List of Topics: By the end of the course, students will be able to successfully write a business plan, develop and deliver an elevator pitch to potential investors, be proficient in SWOT analysis, market analysis, brand development, market penetration strategies, costing and revenue generation forecasting (pro forma development), industry alignment of innovative service or product, and in-depth critical thinking skills around building a successful business.

Credit 3 units.

Typical periods offered: Fall, Summer 3, Spring