Welcome Back Everyone!

Hello Medical Professionals ~



I hope you had a wonderful holiday and your first few days of CC have gone well. There's a lot going on and the first few weeks are a "settling in" period, so be patient during the transition.

If you have any questions, please bring them in writing tomorrow and we'll go over them in class. Many of you will have the same type of inquiry or comments, so let's address these together.

REMINDER: TONIGHT, TUESDAY 11/30 MEDICAL EXPLORER MEETING !!!!!

6:00 p.m. at Valley Care PLEASANTON in the CAFETERIA. 5575 West Las Positas, to the right of the main hospital. Scott Evans: 510-577-9254, scotte@sfbac.org

Make sure you have your journals completed for the journal check tomorrow. This is an ongoing, GRADED assignment, checked each Wednesday while you are at Homeroom. Please list what you observed or performed in detail! Use correct spelling and grammar. This journal will prove to be very helpful during the portfolio process.

I am anxious to hear about your experiences in the field. I was able to visit several of you, and will see all of you soon.

There is honor in all work. You are making a difference in this world and making it a better place. Thank you for going out there and supporting the medical community.

Take care and see you tomorrow....GHS 2nd period!

Mrs. Erceg

GOOD LUCK INTERNS !

You won't need luck.....you have the skills to pay the bills....once you're hired at your site in June!

Congratulations Tiggers ~ you are starting a new adventure soon and I am very excited for you!

KAISER: Orientation: AM Students - only go in the AM - PM Students - only go in the PM
PLEASE call me if you are not sure about where you are supposed to be on 11/29 and 11/30.

AXIS: Orientation 11/29 - Go to back portable (conference room). Call me if you need me!

Take your COMMUNITY CLASSROOM BINDER with you each day to site AND bring to class every Wednesday. You will not have to bring me a time sheet until 12/8/10, that is the one for the week of 11/29 - 12/5.

Scott Evans from Boy Scouts is part of the local medical explorers club that teams up with Valleycare. They meet the third or fourth Tuesday night of each month from 6-7. The program is run by the students and they have a chance to talk with a folks from different medical careers and/or departments of the hospital. Each month they switch speakers and deptartments.

Scott Evans: 510-577-9254, scotte@sfbac.org

NEXT MEETING: NOVEMBER 30th 6:00 - 7:00 Please RSVP to Scott Evans to ensure available seating. Please send him an email. ValleyCare Medical Center
Room 2 next to cafeteria.

Have a great holiday week and have a great time on your first day of Community Classroom! Go represent Medical Occupations well....I know you will!

Mrs. Erceg (510) 305-5111

Good Luck Livermore High Students!

Well, last day with Livermore High today.........except.....I need some forms signed for Valley Care from: Amanda, Elissa, Sheevena, Annette, Nicole and Giulianna. Thanks Amanda and Nicole for helping get this done. Please meet in Ms. Adelman's office tomorrow at 10:15 a.m. to sign the confidentiality agreements. Please call me in the classroom when that is done.

I am asking all students to consider being a "Classroom Ambassador" to present at various meetings with the district, etc. All you have to do is show up and talk about Medical Occupations and your experiences so far.

See the rest of you tomorrow for the CC Binder Review and Vital Signs Competencies.

Take care and see you later. This time of year is special...time for a new adventure!!!

Mrs. Erceg

Hello There!

Hello Everyone,

Thank you Krista and Haley for helping today as classroom managers!

DUE TOMORROW: Your vital signs notes for grading.

LIVERMORE HIGH: I will see you tomorrow from 1:05 to 3:05. I will check your CC Binders and review/assess vital signs with each of you. Please tell your parents that you will be finished with your finals at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, 11/19.

GHS: Have you returned your textbooks to the library?

NURSING MEETING (CSU East Bay): Attendees - please see me for a portfolio certificate.

URGENT***The following students need to see me tomorrow to verify immunization information: Kamal, Mariah, Krishna, Alisha, Shannon, Taylor Q.

Thanks so much and I'll see you tomorrow.

Mrs. Erceg

Can you say.... SPHYNGMOMANOMETER?

Well, you can learn to say it and use it well as you take a blood pressure. Keep practicing this one.

Thank you Korrina and Giulianna for being classroom mangers today.

I also want to thank Arcadia and Vivianne for being SO generous with their time in helping me in the classroom. Intern prep is a lot of work and I don't know what I would do without students helping me. I'd probably have a big headache...or is that "cephalgia"?

Pre-Nursing Meeting in Concord tomorrow night....I think Lexi B. is going! Here's the info:

Cal-State East Bay - Concord Campus
4700 Ygnacio Valley Road, Concord (925) 602-6700
TO REGISTER: www.concord.csueastbay.edu/prenursinginfo
You will get a certificate for your portfolio.

Explorer Post Meeting at Valley Care Hospital on Tuesday, November 30th 6pm-7pm
Learn more about medical careers and get a certificate for your portfolio.

Christmas Tree Lane! They need volunteers - This is a fundraiser for ValleyCare Health System.For more information call ValleyCare Charitable Foundation at
(925) 373-4560

GHS- TEXTBOOKS - return them early and avoid the rush on Friday.

Have a great night.

Mrs. Erceg

There's Homework To Turn In !!!

Hi Folks,

Great job on orientations today and starting the draft of your training plans. Tomorrow we will continue with orientation materials, vital signs and some front office administration training.

PRINT OUT CALENDARS!!! FOR DEC 2010 and JAN 2011 BRING IN TOMORROW!
go to: http://www.printfree.com/Calendars.htm

See vital sign HOMEWORK from the blog on the Wednesday, Nov. 10th blog. All students must be prepared tomorrow with this info, printed out. TPR, temp/pulse/respiration,
Blood Pressure, height, weight and vision screening with the Snellen chart.

GHS: We have the go-ahead to sell the first aid kits on campus. For the PM class, please consider purchasing one at $3.00 or two for $5.00. Let's be ready for the Tri-Valley Haven donation on Dec. 1.

LPC MEETING on 11/10: Did you go? Kamal, Marysol, Armaity, Krishna, Nameeta and Lexi M. Please bring the notes and/or materials from the Surgical Technology Advisory Meeting.

Take care,

Mrs. Erceg

Ready for Vital Signs?

Please read up on vital signs and more this weekend! T, P, R, BP, HT, WT, Vision Testing with the Snellen Chart. Print out something short on each area. Here's an example regarding BP:

Taking the BP
To take a blood pressure, the person should be sitting comfortably and relaxed. Sleeves are pushed up or the shirt removed to reveal a naked arm as clothing can interfere with the pressure of the inflated cuff. The cuff of the sphygmomanometer is placed on the upper arm. It is centered over the brachial artery which is located in the crook of the elbow. The gauge should be placed so it can be easily read. There is usually a place on the cuff to clip it on. Once the cuff is secured, raise the arm to heart level, place your arm underneath it to support it and ask the person to relax their arm. Palpate (feel for) the brachial pulse and place the diaphragm of the stethoscope over this spot. Place the ear pieces on the stethoscope into your ears. Listen to the brachial pulse. Close the valve on the bladder of the cuff and begin to squeeze the bulb. Continue squeezing until the needle on the gauge reads at least 180 or until it is 10mmHg above where you last heard the pulse as you inflated the cuff. Some people cannot hear this and so it is usually pumped up to 180-200mmHg on the gauge. Open the valve slowly and allow the cuff to deflate by 5mmHg/second while you listen to the artery. When you first hear the Karotkoff sound this is the systolic pressure. Continue deflating the cuff until you no longer hear the Karotkoff sound. This is the diastolic pressure. At this point you can open the valve completely to allow the cuff to deflate rapidly. If you did not hear clearly, wait at least one minute before repeating the procedure.Read more at Suite101: Vital Signs: Blood Pressure: How to take a blood pressure http://www.suite101.com/content/vital-signs--blood-pressure-a9840#ixzz14voR3F9z

Thank you JOEY and EMMAD for being classroom mangers today!

Go see your supervisors at your site if I gave you a contract....okay? Please make an appointment first and wear your uniform, badge and lanyard.

Take care and have a great weekend!!!

Mrs. Erceg

Paper Due Tomorrow!

Turn in your site paper tomorrow!

Thank you Rachel and Param for helping in class today as class managers!

Thursday 11/11 and Friday 11/12 are GREAT days to go check out your site and have a quick interview if you are not with Axis or Kaiser.

Calendar sync tomorrow too....

Have a great night!

Mrs. Erceg

Lift with your legs....not your back!

Hi Everyone,

Save those backs and employ the lifting techniques you learned in class today. All in attendance for today's presentation will receive a certificate from Keenan and Associates.

Thank you Mariah and Neema for your help today as classroom managers. Also for Neema, Nandor, Patrisha, Nicole, Joey and Weston....thanks for contributing your time and effort as volunteers in the demonstrations today. The safety of our patients...and your backs...is the priority.

KAISER PACKETS DUE TOMORROW....PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO BRING THEM IN!!!

We have a lot to cover in a few short days. Please be on time and ready to work.

Take care,

Mrs. Erceg

You Really Did Shine !!!!!

You all looked GREAT today in your uniforms!!! Picture day is definitely one of my favorite days of the school year. Thank you for preparing for the class picture and having your uniform ready to go.

Thank you Renee and Lauren for being wonderful classroom managers today.

One more reminder..........PLEASE make sure you have your SS# memorized. I will ask you for that next week as we fill out internship applications for the sites.

Next week we'll talk about medical insurance.....What is the difference between MEDICARE and MEDI-CAL? Would you look on www.cms.gov or look them up and define? This is assigned so you are ready for our discussion about practice management. Please be sure to know what type of medical insurance you have....dental insurance? Car insurance?

Take care and have a nice weekend.......don't forget to set your clocks "BACK"! Get that lovely extra hour of sleep.

Mrs. Erceg

TIME TO SHINE !!!!

Please wear your uniform tomorrow - or bring it with you and change in the restroom very quickly!

Make sure you take really good care of your uniform. Be ready, head to toe tomorrow. I know you all will look fantastic!

Thank you Nicole S. and Ashley - great job today! I love classroom managers...but you know that already.

Reminders !!!

Have you memorized your Social Security number? Another idea is to encode it to look like a phone number in your cell phone. The SS# has 9 digits, so come up with a 10 digit code (area code and phone number) that is your SS# backward, or one digit off the real thing. Come up with something (like a secret code in your note section of your phone) that would never be deciphered by anyone. Get help from a parent with this. Do not carry your SS card with you.

Hey....CHECK THIS OUT: http://flashcards.dictionary.com/learn/viewtopic/Anatomy

IF YOU DO......and bring me evidence of your analysis - you get 20 points of EC !!!!

Take care,

Mrs. Erceg

Hey Interns!

Thank you Weston and Taylor G......and Cortney and Vivianne. You were all a big help to me today!

Reminders:

Turn in homework if you have not done so!

Give your parent(s) the letter I gave you today and SHOW THEM the assignment!

Hannah, Ashley, Lauren and Lexi M. - Please get notes from parents for 11/10 at Valley Care on "Accupressure".

UNIFORMS - Be ready for Friday.

See you tomorrow.

Mrs. Erceg

Hi All,

I am anxious to look over your site info and job descriptions. Turn in homework tomorrow if you did not get it to me today. No missing assignments please!!!!

You are going to be asked if you have your SS# memorized soon. Please do so and have a copy of your insurance card ready as we will soon begin talking about medical insurance.

I NEED STUDENTS to attend the upcoming (certificate-worthy) Surgical Technology Advisory meeting scheduled:

Wednesday, November 10th WE MUST RSVP BY THURSDAY 11/4.
3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
LPC Campus - Building 2200 (Room 2202) PARKING PERMIT PROVIDED

This meeting is attended by administrators, teachers in health science and students. I need some folks to go and get the information on the Surgical Technology Program and how we can help students with this career.

We'll continue the fun in Medical Occupations tomorrow.

Mrs. Erceg

Did you wash your hands?

Keep practicing proper technique for handwashing. Remember, I really want you to be a "BREAK" in the chain of infection!

Thank you Monica and Vivianne for your help today as classroom managers!

Regarding the Health Fair.....Please confirm your attendance or volunteer time there on Saturday, as well as anyone who donated blood recently. Certificates will be prepared.

HOMEWORK DUE TOMORROW: Regarding your site/specialty area......Find information on your specialty area in preparation for next week.Research

Print out:Website Homepage - Map, directions, departments, etc. AND a Job Description for a Medical Assisant/Aide/Technician in your specialty area. 15 points

What is HIPAA? Print out a SHORT paragraph or (one page) with the definition. This is worth 10 points.

Make sure you have your SS# memorized and a copy of the front and back of your insurance card.

Take care,

Mrs. Erceg