Course descriptions index


Community Health

CHP 082  2 Credits
Community Health Aide, Pre-Session I
Assists the newly employed Community Health Aide to function in the village clinic until he/she enters Session I. Patient evaluation, use of the manual, reporting patients, medicines and lab tests. Emergency care is included if students have not had emergency trauma training. (Prerequisite: Employment by the health corporation as a community health aide or permission of instructor.) Offered As Demand Warrants


CHP 131  8 Credits
Community Health Aide, Session I
Introduction to providing village primary health care services with remote supervision of a physician. Topics include CHP standard of care, use of the CHA/P Manual, history-taking and physical exam, lab tests, reporting to the physician, medical charting and medication administration. Supervised clinical experiences prepare the student to conduct patient evaluation of common village health problems of children and adults. Introduction to human anatomy and function, wellness and disease concepts, crisis intervention and emergency care. A 200 hour field component at the students' village clinic follows the didactic program. (Prerequisite: Employed as CHA by a health corporation or permission of the instruction.) Offered As Demand Warrants


CHP 132  8 Credits
Community Health Aide, Session II
Reinforces the problem-oriented patient encounter process. Includes patient education, introduction to prenatal and well child care, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, substance abuse, mental illness and death and dying issues. Session I material and emergency care are reinforced and expanded upon. A 200 hour field component at the students's village clinic follows the didactic program. (Prerequisite: CHP 131.) Offered As Demand Warrants


CHP 133  8 Credits
Community Health Aide, Session III
Session II content reinforced and expanded upon. Additional topics include prenatal care, family planning, fetal alcohol syndrome, emergency delivery techniques, newborn and well child care including immunizations, nutrition, dental health, adult health surveillance, family violence and sexual abuse/rape and clinic management. A 200 hour field component at the students' village clinic follows the didactic program. (Prerequisite: CHP 132.) Offered As Demand Warrants


CHP 134  8 Credits
Community Health Aide, Session IV
Common patient problems within the body systems are reviewed with a focus on assessment skills and management plans. Previous session content is reviewed. Follow-up care for patients with chronic illness, injury prevention, tuberculosis, cancer, environmental health, post partum care, adolescent care and older adult/elder care. A 200 hour field component at the students' village clinic follows the didactic program. (Prerequisite: CHP 133.) Offered As Demand Warrants


CHP 135  2 Credits
Community Health Aide Preceptorship
Supervised primary care clinical experience. Minimum of 30 contact hours of direct patient care required. Students provide patient care in a variety of clinical settings including outpatient (acute and emergency care), prenatal, well child and chronic care clinics. Additional experiences are scheduled with the referral center (hospital) departments. (Prerequisite: CHP 134.) Offered As Demand Warrants


CHP 203  1-3 Credits
Clinical Update for Community Health Practitioners
Review, update and reinforcement of knowledge and skills taught in CHP 131, 132, 133 and 134. Emphasis is on patient evaluation skills, use of the manual, patient treatment plan, medicines, prenatal care, well-child care, chronic patient care and emergency care. Clinical training is provided. (Prerequisite: CHP 134.) Offered As Demand Warrants


CHP 206  1-3 Credits
Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Instruction in listening skills, drug therapy and family dynamics for crisis intervention, long term care in the area of mental health and substance abuse. Other topics include the mentally ill patient, the substance abuser, the co-dependent and prevention activities for the village. (Prerequisite: CHP 134 or permission of instructor.) Offered As Demand Warrants


CHP 207  1-3 Credits
Maternal and Infant Health
Review of the anatomy of the reproductive system, family planning, pregnancy, fetal development, prenatal care, prenatal education, emergency delivery, postpartum care for mother and baby, and well-child evaluations and immunizations. (Prerequisite: CHP 134 or permission of instructor.) Offered As Demand Warrants


CHP 208  1-3 Credits
Communicable Diseases
Expands concepts in relation to diagnosis, management and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Skills taught include male and female genitalia exam, pelvic exam, pap smear, gonorrhea culture and chlamydia culture. Prevention and patient education are emphasized. (Prerequisite: CHP 134 or permission of instructor.) Offered As Demand Warrants


CHP 211  1-3 Credits
Health Education
Methods and philosophy of health education, use and sources of audiovisual materials, presentation planning and participation in school and community health programs are included. A variety of teaching methods including role playing for individual and group presentations permit CHPs to practice their health education knowledge and skills. Offered As Demand Warrants


CHP 212  1-3 Credits
Diabetes: Primary Prevention and Village Medical Care
Pathophysiology, primary prevention and follow-up treatment of the disease diabetes. Topics include the problem of Type II diabetes in rural Alaska, CHP role in the village health care system, Type I and Type II diabetes, primary prevention of Type II diabetes, village medical care and referral, patient education, emergency care and diabetes medications. The clinical training portion of the course is available for Community Health Aides/Practitioners only. Offered As Demand Warrants


CHP 214  3 Credits
Cancer: Risks, Diagnosis and Treatment
Causes and facts about cancer in the Alaska Native population. Includes cancer risk factors, healthy lifestyle behaviors and the importance of early screening. Presents cancer diagnosis and treatment. Explores pain management, loss and grief. Includes self-care, stress and burnout issues for family and caregivers. (Recommended: CHP 134.) (3 + 0) Offered Spring, As Demand Warrants


CHP 215  3 Credits
Death and Dying
Focusing on contemporary primary care issues relating to death and dying. Improving individual coping skills in loss and grief situations. Topics include theories of grief and loss, care of the terminally ill patient, suicide, euthanasia, traumatic death and neonatal death. Cultural perspectives on dying, body preparation, burial rites, advanced directives, death certificates and legal issues reviewed. (3 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


CHP 220  2 Credits
Women's Health: Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening
Review of anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of the female breasts and genitals, with reinforcement of identification of risk factors as they relate to the development of breast and cervical cancer. Skills taught include female breast and genital history taking, examination to include Pap, chlamydia and gonorrhea specimen collection, development of appropriate assessments and plans. Areas emphasized: prevention and/or early detection. (Prerequisite: CHP 134 or permission of instructor.) (2 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


CHP 250  1-3 Credits
Current Issues in Rural Health Care
Selected current issues in medical education intended for, but not limited to, Community Health Aides/Practitioners with emphasis on expanding concepts relating to understanding, diagnosis and management of illnesses common to rural Alaskan communities. May be repeated for credit. Community Health majors may apply up to a maximum of three credits towards the 200-level major specialty requirements for A.A.S. degree. (1-3 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants