RESP  335

RESPIRATORY THERAPY ETHICS AND MANAGEMENT

COURSE SYLLABUS

Summer 2004

 

Kerry E.  George, RCP, RRT

Office 9 - 26a     964-6298    

964-2175 (home) 

242-1281 (pager)

Kegeorge@dmacc.edu

http://www.dmacc.edu/instructors/kegeorge/mgmt/mgmt.htm

 

This class will center on several main purposes.  You will learn several important aspects of management and supervision of other persons, develop skills needed to obtain employment, develop a basic knowledge of medical ethical principles, develop a philosophy of where you feel the respiratory care profession should go in the future, identify what you must do to allow the profession to go in the proper direction and develop skills to understand and conduct basic research.

 

RESOURCE MATERIALS: You will continue to utilize books that have been used in previous courses. 

 

GRADING:  Your grade for this class will be determined based on the following items:

 

                       

Class Participation

Required

Assignments

Required

Group Test

Required

Future of Respiratory Care Paper

|Choose|

Ethical Topic Paper

|Two of |

Management Topic Paper

|Three  |

                       

Each student will select two of the three papers listed to write and identify them on the information you provide me along with the three required items listed above.  You may choose to assign between 10 and 30 percent for each of the five items and the total must be 100%.  The division of these must be submitted through an e-mailed message before noon on June 4, 2004.  If I do not receive this, your grade will be determined as 19% on each category and I will select the two papers you will write.  (If you do the math, this means you will automatically lose 5% off the course total)

 

You must submit one of the papers you choose to write no later than the start of class on Tuesday July 6, 2004.  The second of the papers must be submitted not later than the start of class on Thursday July 29, 2004.  If either paper is submitted after the due date, the score will be reduced by 10% for each day the paper is late.  You may submit drafts of your paper for feedback.  You must allow on 24 hours for me to read the information and provide you with feedback.  You must also make arrangements for return of the paper to you if you want it on a day other than a class day.  Electronic submission will facilitate the submission and return of the materials.

 

Grades will be determined based on the final class total and the following grading scale.

 

93.33- 100%

A

90.0 – 93.32%

A-

86.67 - 89.99%

B+

83.33 – 86.66%

B

80.0 – 83.32%

B-

76.67 - 79.99%

C+

73.3 – 76.66%

C

70.0 – 73.32%

C-

66.67 - 69.99%

D+

63.33 – 66.66%

D

60.0 – 63.32%

D-

<60.0

F

 

 

1.         CLASS PARTICIPATION:  Participation in class is very important to success in this class.  Much of value you will take from this class will be accomplished during class sessions.  We will be discussing and sharing experiences and will all learn from each other.  You will be expected to attend all class sessions, and to be actively involved in the activities occurring during class.  Obviously if you are not in class a particular day, you cannot receive benefit or credit for that day.

 

2.         ASSIGNMENTS:  You will be expected to complete several projects individually and in small groups.  Some of these will be completed in class and others will be completed outside class.  You will be assigned projects both in class and on the Web.  It will be important for you to check the class web site on a regular basis.  (At least twice each week)

 

3.         GROUP TEST:  Near the end of the term, your class as a whole will complete a test covering the information we deal with in the class.  The test will consist of several “essay” type questions dealing with ethics of health care and topics of management.  The questions will be based on the topics we cover in class and will ask you to discuss information and decision-making rather than opinions of what decision to make.  Grading will be based on the strength of the information, and not on the decision made.  You should emphasize supporting information for the decision rather than what decision is to be made.

 

4.         FUTURE OF RESPIRATORY CARE PAPER: Students will research and prepare a typed (printed), double-spaced paper (4-6 pages) discussing the future of the respiratory care profession, and how you will participate in that future.  I want you to identify from research the directions in which you feel the respiratory care profession will move in the next 5-8 years.  This paper must have at least 4 references.  In addition to your ideas of the kinds of things respiratory therapists will be doing in the future, you are to describe what your role in the changes and the future of the profession will be.  I will be happy to discuss your ideas and provide feedback on drafts of your paper at any time before one week before it is due.  Papers that are not acceptable will be redone with a penalty of 20% for each resubmit.

 

5.         ETHICAL TOPIC PAPER:  Students will prepare a paper discussing both sides of an ethical topic currently being considered in health care.  The paper shall be at least 5 pages, double-spaced and printed.  The paper shall include at least 4 references.  You may select any topic of interest to you.  You will discuss both the supportive and opposing views on the topic.  It is best if you take a neutral position when writing the paper

 

6.         MANAGEMENT TOPIC PAPER:  Student will prepare and submit a paper dealing with a topic of management.  Each student will choose a topic in which they have an interest.  Your paper shall be 4-10 double spaced, typewritten pages with references.  I suggest you select a topic about which you have an interest and about which you would like to learn more information.

 

            SUGGESTED TOPICS: (You do not need to do one of these topics)

           

            Ethical Topics

            Euthanasia

            Physician Assisted Suicide

            Informed Consent for Investigational therapies and drugs

            Patient decisions to withhold or withdraw supportive care

            Patient versus physician decision on Do Not Attempt Resuscitation

            Withholding information on terminal illness diagnoses from patients

            Conflict of ethics based on differences in cultural background

            HIPAA and how do I do my job

 

            Management Topics

            Advantages and drawbacks of 8, 10, 12 and 16 hour shifts

            Theories of motivation

            Assessing and improving employee affective behavior

            Matching staffing to workload

            Productivity measurement of employees and departments

            Pros and cons of decentralization of respiratory care departments

            Total Quality Improvement in health care settings

            Determining actual costs of respiratory care procedures

            What benefits motivate and which keep the peace

            Appearance/uniforms and perceptions of competence