Your Health in the Real World

Define medical expressions or terms used by health care professionals.

Define basic terminology for general use such as reading prescription labels.

Interpret and explain take-home instructions from a health care professional.

Identify normal vital signs, including temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, body mass index (BMI), oxygen, and blood glucose levels.

Interpret medication labels, including supplements and over-the-counter and prescription drugs.

Analyze the importance of each component of personal medical history, including immunizations, previous treatments, current medical records, and family history.

Differentiate between types of insurance, including health, vision, and dental insurance.

Evaluate the advantages, disadvantages, and costs of public and private insurance benefits.

Analyze key components of insurance, including copay and deductible.

Describe different ways to pay for health care, including paying cash, health savings accounts, and flexible spending accounts.

Interpret the components of a medical bill such as the explanation of benefits (EOB).

Compare and contrast the differences between generic and name-brand medications.

Identify cost differentials of similar medications and the rights of the consumer, including the ability to ask a pharmacist for other options.

Explain the limitations of medications, including the differences between symptomatic treatment and treatment for a cure.

Identify different types of improper use of medications, including using expired medications and using, overusing, and misusing non-prescribed medications.

Identify ways to properly dispose of medications and equipment and explain the importance of proper disposal.

Explain what Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval means and compare with off-label use.

Research and describe available health care sharing plans.

Identify the options of community health care resources, including federally qualified healthcare centers (FQHC) and non-profit community clinics.

Identify available health care community resources such as medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, x-ray, and laboratory services.

Define the Health Information Privacy and Portability Act (HIPPA) and explain how it relates to confidentiality of medical records.

Identify patient rights, including rights to sexually transmitted disease/sexually transmitted infection (STD/STI) testing and pregnancy health care and explain physician privileges.

Define the role of a chaperone in a medical setting, including the patient's ability to request or remove one.

Demonstrate how to have a collaborative conversation with a health care professional, including asking questions and advocating for self and others.

Analyze the impact of medical bias on health outcomes.

Evaluate resources relevant to patients' legal rights, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Patient's Bill of Rights (2020).

Compare and contrast remote (telehealth and e-medicine) and in-person health care and treatment.

Research and describe the effects of inequitable distribution of technology in health care, including medical facilities and home environments.

Differentiate between credible and false health information on the internet and social media.

Analyze the risks of sharing private health information.

Evaluate the use and effectiveness of a personal fitness device or health application.

Compare and contrast insurance plans, including health maintenance organization (HMO), preferred provider organization (PPO), Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Research and explain current federal, state, and local government guidelines for health insurance.

Distinguish between insurable and non-insurable health services, including elective procedures and integrative and non-traditional health care.

Explore and describe a variety of careers in the health care industry.

Analyze the various roles in the health care delivery system, including health care administration, health care professionals, public health professionals, corporate health care, and research and development.

Identify the roles of leading public health organizations such as county health departments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Compare and contrast U.S. and global health issues.

Explain the ways that local, state, national, and international organizations support public health.

Analyze the effects of public policy on the prevention of communicable and noncommunicable diseases.

Research and discuss an emerging health issue or topic such as health equity or a pandemic.

Appraise the impact of leading health organizations on emerging health issues and topics.

Explore and explain the effects of environmental policy on public health.

Analyze the interconnectedness of different sectors of the health care industry and how they improve public health.

Evaluate the impact of public health policy on emergency preparedness.

Examine the relationship between mental health and physical health.

Evaluate the importance of social interaction and its impact on health.

Describe the connection between mental health and the increase in homelessness and incarceration.

Analyze the impact of social stigma on accessing mental health services, including barriers to treatment.

Appraise the effect of biological family medical history (genetics), including maternal and paternal, on health outcomes or risk for illness.

Evaluate the benefits of regular checkups.

Classify primary, secondary, and tertiary preventions.

Define comorbidities and their impact on health.

Examine health risk factors such as sedentary lifestyle and poor diet that can lead to negative health outcomes.

Research and describe preventative services covered by insurance plans.

Explain the importance of vaccines across the lifespan.

Evaluate the effectiveness of a personal health plan that includes nutrition, exercise, healthy weight, and sleep in preventing chronic disease.

Evaluate the effectiveness of prevention campaigns on health behavior such as substance use, misuse, and abuse.