Specific Assignment Instructions for Semester Project
Note: Read all the directions carefully before beginning. If you have any questions about
any step, please contact me by email for clarification. Remember: Completion of the
semester project is required to pass this course. You must verify your participation in the
project by following all the steps below.
This project has several mandatory elements that must be included to earn full credit.
This project counts for a significant portion of your grade. It is your opportunity to show
me what you have learned and to demonstrate your understanding of the importance of
the material covered in the course. Your project should not look like something thrown
together the night before it is due.
STEP 1: You will choose three local physician specialists in your area. Your list should
include the following information:
1. Physician’s name
2. Location with a citation telling me how you found the physician. (Website,
hospital listing, ad, etc.)
3. Describe in plain English what the physician’s specialty deals with. For example,
an otolaryngologist treats diseases of the ear and throat. Please note: you are
not required to contact the physician or the office.
STEP 2: For each physician, provide a list of at least 20 terms from your e-text that
might apply to this physician’s practice. These terms might include pertinent labs,
imaging tests, or other tests the doctor would frequently order. The list could also
include terms that refer to parts of the body that are the focus of this practice. Any term
you have learned that applies to this specialty may be used. A term may be important to
more than one specialty. For example, a nephrologist and a urologist would both use
urinalysis and computerized axial tomography of the kidneys. Provide an explanation or
definition for each term that you would use in talking with a patient (who has not taken
AHS 115!). Cite the page number in your e-text where each term can be found. (Note:
The eText “batches” pages together in slides. You should cite the page number, not the
slide number.)
STEP 3: For each physician, construct a case history describing a patient. The case
history should include presenting symptom(s) in the patient’s words as well as the
medical terminology the doctor would use to record these symptoms. For example, the
patient’s complaint that “it hurts to urinate” might be recorded as “dysuria” in the doctor’s
notes. Then describe the type of examination and tests the doctor might order to
evaluate the patient. You should use the medical term for each of these along with the explanation that would be given to the patient. I have posted a simple example
elsewhere in this folder.
This portion should include at least 15 terms for each physician, including both the
patient’s words to the provider, the provider’s notes and plan, and the explanation in
plain English to the patient by the provider. Again, cite the page number (not slide
number) in the e-text where each term can be found.
STEP 4: Determine how to present your completed project. You may choose to do a
PowerPoint presentation, google slideshow.
