Program Courses

• Student Success Strategies [BC-SSSD]

  • Students will gain a better understanding of themselves through an exploration of their personal attributes, transferable skills and learning styles. This course will introduce techniques for time, conflict, and stress management and develop interpersonal communication skills. Fundamental study and motivation skills will be covered, preparing students to excel in their program of choice. Students will also prepare a professional resume and learn how to write effective cover letters.

• Introduction to Computers [ITC4]

  • This course is a broad-based introduction to using a personal computer. It teaches the fundamentals of an operating system and the most popular application software including word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. You will also learn about the Internet, Web browsers, electronic mail and antivirus software. The course is based on the Windows 7 operating system, Microsoft office 2013 and a variety of popular software programs for the Internet-related and security-related applications

• Health Care Communication & Interpersonal Skills [MAA110]

  • This course is specially designed for the new healthcare professional. In any business or interpersonal contact, an impression of a person forms in the first 10 to 15 seconds, so it is crucial to the success of that relationship. The importance of the ‘customer’ and of customer relations, to business success is examined in this course, including through case studies and role playing. Students learn relevant techniques in human behaviour and how they may be applied to improve customer (patient) relations in the medical office. Learning basic communication skills, especially related to the medical field, will assist the student in dealing with all kinds of patients. Understanding cultural differences and appreciating diversity will add another dimension in how to deal with patients and provide safer healthcare delivery in the medical office.

• Dental Sciences Foundations [AB-DSF101]

  • This course introduces the students to dentistry and the dental team. In this course, students will learn prefixes and suffixes used in the formation of medical and dental words while building a medical-dental vocabulary. Students will learn detailed anatomy of the head and examine the normal development of the oral cavity and teeth. Topics include:  Tooth morphology  General anatomy of the tooth and periodontium  Eruption schedules – primary and permanent  Types of occlusion  Anatomy of the head  Numbering systems  Preventive dentistry  Oral health

• Dental Emergency Procedures [BC-DEMGP]

  • This component provides students with the knowledge and skills that are required to recognize and prevent medical and dental emergencies within the dental office. It will prepare students to assist the dentist in administering immediate care for the client in the dental office environment. Students also participate in CPR/First Aid training and psychological first aid. Recognition of Medical Emergencies Preventing Medical Emergencies Emergency Equipment Emergency Responses Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation – CPR Level C First Aid Psychological First Aid

• Dental Infection Control and Safety [DCA130]

  • This module will provide students with knowledge of the practices for infection control in dentistry. This course will cover terminology as it relates to the study of disease transmission and infection control and safety, chain of infection, methods of prevention and control of transmission of microorganisms, principles and techniques of disinfection and sterilization and processing of dental instruments, safety and workplace management of hazardous wastes. Emphasis on how to adapt federal, provincial and CDI clinic infection control and safety guidelines and recommendations will also be discussed. The course will also provide didactic background as pre-requisite knowledge for Dental Radiography building on the principles of infection control and safety. Students will also complete the WHMIS module as part of this course.

• Charting and Records Management [DCA150]

  • Students begin this course with an introduction to ethics and protecting the privacy of dental clients. This course provides students with the knowledge and skills to maintain patient records. Topics will include patient registration, health history forms, records retention and records transfer. Students will learn symbols and abbreviations used in clinical charts and practise entering existing conditions and recording treatment procedures on a clinical chart.

• Dental Reception Procedures [DOA110]

  • This course presents complete and accurate coverage of the basic skills needed to perform effectively as a dental receptionist and will provide students with the knowledge and skills related to dental reception procedures. Topics will include the daily routines and tasks of an office, telephone, developing client communication skills and the basic steps in filing. Students will practise appointment management, and establish continuing-care systems. This course will also teach students various formatting styles to written communication, inventory systems, and time management. Other topics include becoming familiar with dental specialties and become acquainted with types of drugs commonly prescribed in a dental office.

• Dental Insurance [DOA120]

  • Pre-requisite: DOA110 – Dental Reception Procedures; DSM4 – Dental Software Management Following dental reception and office procedures training, this course expands into an overview of dental insurance. The course provides students with the knowledge and skills related to the use of provincial dental fee guides and claims terminology. Topics will include dental benefits and identifying parties affected by dental benefits. This course will also teach students how to perform all tasks associated with preparing dental claim forms. This will include paper claim forms and predeterminations. The course introduces the student to common dental benefits, benefit limitations, exclusions, coordination of benefits and determining order of liability. Other topics will include assignment of benefits, copayments, calculating copayments and explanation of benefits.

• Dental Software Management [DSM4]

  • Students are introduced to dental software packages commonly used in offices and facilities. The software functions include patient registration, appointment booking, billing, reconciliations, and records management. The course also describes the various reports used in dental office bookkeeping in a computerized system. Topics in this course also include: dental software applications,setting up and adjusting appointments,insurance billing/pre-determinations, reconciliation of accounts at day-end; month- and year-end processing, correcting billing errors, office reporting: providers work; A/R; patient lists; and labels.

• Career & Employment Strategies [CES4]

  • This course looks at the planning, preparation, execution, and follow-up stages of an interview: how people find jobs; employer expectations; presenting an enthusiastic attitude; focusing on the right job; transferable skills; the job interview; effective resume preparation; cover and thank you letters; effective telemarketing; tapping the hidden job market; handling objections; job search management; self-confidence and self-esteem building; mock interviews (video-taped); and individual counselling and coaching.