Continuing Education
Online Courses
HPI provides a variety of continuing education online courses for healthcare professionals. To see if an on-line course is appropriate for your learning needs, please visit the following site and take the quick self-assessment. The following online courses are currently offered through HPI:

CPR Renewal Online

To renew your AHA BLS Healthcare Provider card, you must complete a renewal course within the month that your current 2-year AHA CPR card expires. Students past that time period must take the full 8-hour Provider course again.

Register, pay, complete your study, and take your written exam online at the American Heart Association (AHA) online renewal course that can be found at: www.onlinetrainingplace.com. When you complete they AHA online course, you will receive a completion certificate from AHA. To obtain your AHA CPR (BLS) Renewal card, you must still register and attend one of our EMSP 1019 CPR Skills Testing courses, where you will be checked off on your skills. Students must bring their AHA online certificate of completion with them to the Skills Testing course.

To register for a Skills Testing courses, contact (512) 223-7542 or contact a Coordinator.


Sonography

The Diagnostic Medical and Cardiac Sonography and Vascular Technology courses are restricted to currently practicing ultrasound technicians and registered sonographers for the purpose of registry preparation and/or fulfillment of ARDMS CME requirements. Contact the Sonography Department Chair for approval for registration. The courses are web-based (on-line courses utilize the ACC web-based course delivery system, Blackboard). Please see individual course description for more information. Continuous registration is available through a date range listed in CE schedule.

Technology requirement for Sonography
online courses (DSAX 3000 and DSVT 1091):

System Hardware requirements: Pentium processor or equivalent, 233 MHz; 64 MB Ram, 200 MB available hard disk space; 56.6 K Baud modem, DSL, cable modem or ISDN connection; Video card with minimum 800X600 resolution.

System Software requirements: Windows 95, 98, 2000, NT or XP; Acrobat Reader (free download from www.adobe.com); Word processing software, such as Microsoft Word, E-mail capability; Power Point or Power Point Viewer (free download from Blackboard); Windows Media Player or QuickTime for Windows.

Textbook and other course requirements or resources will be posted within the Blackboard site for each course.

DSVT 1091 200 Syn. 85053 Special Topics in Diagnostic Medical Sonography Technician - Vascular Technology (30.0 hours/$140.00) Online.

Course covers all the topics included in the ARDMS Vascular Technology specialty exam. The instructor is available to students via Blackboard Discussion Forum and email. In addition, on-campus instructional activities may be arranged and/or scheduled for those in the Austin and Central Texas area; see Blackboard course site for more information. Admission Requirements: Sonography Department Chair approval. CME credits pending through the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

Echocardiography Mobility Certificate
(EMC) DSAX 3000 101 Syn. 85841 (160 hours/$450) Online

Students must complete all certificate courses in one calendar year. To earn the EMC, the student must complete the final assessment for each component of the course.

The Echocardiography Mobility Certificate is a web-based certificate of completion in Adult Echocardiography specifically designed for those with the RDMS and/or the RVT/RVS credential(s) who wish to enhance or expand their knowledge and/or abilities in this sonographic specialty. The EMC consists of three courses (DSAE 2003, DSAE 2004 and DSAE 2035); these courses are taught via the ACC web-based (on-line) course delivery system, Blackboard. Enrollment is restricted to those with the above credentials, however, individuals currently working in Echocardiography and seeking to obtain the ARDMS or CCI credential may be considered for admission (contact the Sonography Department Chair). The EMC is not designed as a registry review set of courses, but a sonographer/vascular technologist or ultrasound technician may choose to utilize these courses as such. CME credits pending through the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

The student is responsible for his/her own clinical experience; it is recommended that the student arrange the clinical experience concurrent with the online courses. "The SCAN" (Sonography Clinical Assessment Notebook) is recommended to guide and document the student?s clinical experience and attainment of required scanning skills.

The EMC registration covers all three component DSAE courses (see course description below). ACC is seeking SDMS CME credit for these courses; available number of credits and award date to be announced.

Admission Requirements:

Sonography credentials (RDMS, RVT or RVS); Sonography Department Chair approval at dmsprog@austincc.edu.

Component Course Descriptions:

DSAE 2003 Cardiovascular Concepts (48.0 hours)
An on-line study of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of the cardiovascular system. Focuses on cardiac and vascular structural anatomy and relationships, electrical innervation, embryology, and hemodynamics of the heart and vascular system. Pathophysiology concepts, including etiology, pathology, signs, symptoms, risk factors, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases are also presented.

DSAE 2004 Echocardiographic Evaluation of Pathology I (80.0 hours)
An on-line course with emphasis on adult acquired cardiac pathologies. Topics include cardiovascular pathophysiology, quantitative measurements, and the application of 2-D, M-Mode, and Doppler. Recognition of the sonographic appearances of cardiovascular disease is stressed.

DSAE 2035 Advanced Echocardiography (32.0 hours)
An on-line course with emphasis on adult acquired cardiac pathologies. Topics include cardiovascular pathophysiology, quantitative measurements, and the application of 2-D, M-Mode, and Doppler. Recognition of the sonographic appearances of cardiovascular disease is stressed.


Medical Terminology

An online study of word origin and structure through the introduction of prefixes, suffixes, root words, plurals, abbreviations and symbols, surgical procedures, medical specialties, and diagnostic procedures. Course is available in both a 16 contact hour and a 32 contact hour version, depending on the level of instruction you need.

For additional information contact a Coordinator.

Courses available include:

HPRS 1006 Medical Terminology (32 hours)
HPRS 1006 Medical Terminology (16 hours)


Pharmacology Math

Designed for students not currently enrolled in the Pharmacy Tech Program; for use as review course.

PHRA 1009 Pharmaceutical Mathematics I (48.0 hours)
On-line pharmaceutical mathematics including reading, interpreting, and solving calculation problems encountered in the preparation and distribution of drugs. Conversion of measurements within the apothecary, avoirdupois, and metric systems with emphasis on the metric system of weight and volume. Topics include ratio and proportion, percentage, dilution and concentration, mill equivalent, units, intravenous flow rates, and solving dosage problems. College integrated with PHRA 1209. Call (512) 223-7271 for orientation information. Prerequisites: Internet Access Required.

For additional information contact a Coordinator.


Social Security Disability Advocacy

SCWK 2002 Social Security Disability Advocacy Training - Online (20.0 hours)
This 20-hour online training course will give guidelines for the professional who is advising the client seeking social security disability benefits. Module I covers the responsibilities of the professional advising the client. Modules II-IV cover the disability and health components of impairment. Course provides 20 continuing education contact hours for nurses (RN & LVN), counselors (LCDC, LPC, LMFT) and social workers (state of Texas). Paralegals, case managers, case intake specialists, workers compensation, human resource staff, and others receive 20 contact hours of general college continuing education credit.

For additional information contact a Coordinator.