Department of Health Professions

The Department of Health Professions provides professionally focused educational programs leading to a Bachelor of Science in Health Systems Management, Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science, and Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences. The department is committed to fostering a dynamic learning environment, aiming to equip students with knowledge, skills, and ethical principles necessary for success in a diverse healthcare setting. Through innovative curricula and clinical and internship experiences, the department strives to advance the proficiency and professionalism of aspiring health professionals, ultimately contributing to the enhancement of global healthcare delivery.

Bachelor of Science in Health Systems Management

Purpose

The purpose of the Bachelor of Science in Health Systems Management (HSM) program is to prepare students to:

1. Understand current and future healthcare industry trends and issues;
2. Develop, communicate, and manage resources and develop solutions to challenges for healthcare systems; and
3. Improve overall quality and outcomes of healthcare systems and services.

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Health Systems Management program will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate the impacts of historical, political, social, and cultural events on healthcare trends and healthcare systems;
2. Incorporate scholarship, research, and analytic methods to lead evidence-based practice change and continuous quality improvement;
3. Utilize healthcare management theory to design and improve healthcare management programs;
4. Evaluate healthcare outcome data and make recommendations for healthcare delivery improvement;
5. Serve as a resource in the work environment for individuals with acute and chronic health conditions;
6. Utilize knowledge of health policy to facilitate advocacy initiatives, social justice, and ethical care; and
7. Assume mid-level leadership roles in organizations and systems which positively impact the health of individuals and populations.

Internships

The Bachelor of Science in Health Systems Management program requires a senior-level internship. Internships provide students with career-related experiences prior to graduation and offer opportunities to network and build professional references for the future. A minimum of 320 field-based hours is required in the last semester of the program. Students must demonstrate the ability to apply concepts, methods, and theories related to health systems management in a healthcare setting. The program coordinator reserves the right to limit the number of students for internships based on clinical resources.

Graduation Requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Health Systems Management must meet all graduation requirements listed in the Degree and Graduation Requirements  section of the Academic Regulations page. In addition, candidates must successfully complete 320 field-based hours in a healthcare setting, receive a minimum grade of C in all courses applied toward the major, and maintain an overall GPA of 2.0.

Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science

The mission of the Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) program is to prepare high-quality MLS professionals to provide accurate complex testing while communicating with other health professionals concerning ethical medical care for patients.

The medical laboratory science curriculum is designed to prepare students for a healthcare profession as competent medical laboratory scientists. Medical laboratory scientists:

• Perform, interpret, and supervise the analysis of blood, plasma, serum, body fluids, and tissues in a medical laboratory; and
• Test body fluids including blood, urine, stool, cerebral spinal fluid, bone marrow, pleural fluid, peritoneal fluid, synovial fluid, and many others for abnormalities.

The four-year program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 5600 North River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5156 (773-714-8880), www.naacls.org.

The curriculum consists of 120 semester credit hours. The first three years (82 hours) are completed on-campus consisting of general education and pre-clinical requirements. The final 38 credit hours are completed during the clinical phase, conducted on- and off-campus at approved clinical sites. Admission to the University does not guarantee enrollment in the clinical phase. Selection for enrollment in the clinical phase is competitive. Students are admitted to clinical sites in June, August, and January. If a student is not accepted into the clinical phase, the student will be redirected to alternative degree plans or to appropriate remedial action for future reapplication. Students must comply with all University and medical laboratory policies during the clinical phase. To be eligible to apply for the clinical phase, the student must meet the following criteria by the end of the semester in which the application is made:

• A minimum grade point average of 2.7 with no grade lower than a C in all courses outlined in the general education and pre-clinical requirements;
• Have repeated no more than two courses in the general education and pre-clinical curriculum due to a failing grade (D or F);
• Have dropped or withdrawn from no more than four courses in general education and pre-clinical curriculum;
• Completed the clinical phase application by the specified deadline; and
• Complete all general education and pre-clinical courses by the clinical start date.

There are specific essential functions related to successful performance in this curriculum and occupation. Contact the Department of Health Professions before declaring medical laboratory science as your major.

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be eligible for a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science. Graduates are then eligible to take a national certification exam and apply for a state license. The granting of a Bachelor of Science degree is not contingent upon passing a national certification exam or applying for a state license.

During the medical laboratory science clinical phase, students may receive a grade of I (incomplete) if a course is still in progress when the semester ends. Grades of I will be changed to letter grades at the end of the clinical phase. If an I grade is changed to a grade below a C, the student may be required to repay a portion of their federal financial assistance.

After acceptance is granted to the clinical phase, the student must meet the requirements for continuation in clinical medical laboratory science courses including but not limited to the following:

1. Clearance and verification from a healthcare worker background check which includes a search of all U.S. County criminal records, maiden/alias names, residency history search, social security alerts, national sex offender index, and nationwide healthcare fraud and abuse. This background profile must be conducted by a specified agency at a cost to the student of $44.
2. Negative results from a 10-panel urine drug screen performed by a specified medical laboratory at a cost to the student of $35.
3. Up-to-date immunizations/vaccinations record.
4. Clearance from a health care provider via a signed ‘Health Screen’ form (physical exam)– no charge at Ochsner CHRISTUS Health Urgent Care Student Health Center, or student to pay cost at facility of the student’s choice.
5. Hepatitis B titer demonstrating immunity–$5 cost to student at Ochsner CHRISTUS Health Urgent Care Student Health Center, or student to pay cost at facility of the student’s choice.
   1. If Hepatitis B titer demonstrates non-immunity, student will need to obtain, at the student’s cost, either the Hepatitis B Vaccine series or booster ($270 per shot at Ochsner CHRISTUS Health Urgent Care Student Health Center, or student to pay cost at facility of the student’s choice).
6. Negative results of a PPD or TB skin test, $25 cost to student at Ochsner CHRISTUS Health Urgent Care Student Health Center, or student to pay cost at facility of the student’s choice.
   1. If student has previously received a BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guerin) vaccine, they are not eligible for a PPD or TB skin test, and will be directed to receive a QuantiFERON Gold test, at a cost to the student of $60 at Ochsner CHRISTUS Health Urgent Care Student Health Center, or student to pay cost at facility of the student’s choice.
7. Assignments for clinical phase courses are typically Tuesday-Thursday during daytime hours. You may be assigned evening or weekend hours if needed, depending on clinical site scheduling.
8. Travel to and from the classroom and clinical assignments is the responsibility of the student. Clinical sites are located in Lake Charles, Sulphur, DeRidder, Jennings, Lafayette, and Beaumont, TX.

Course delivery for professional phase courses is a combination of face-to-face classroom courses on campus, clinical courses off-campus, and web hybrid courses.*All prices may change at the discretion of the facility listed.

Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences

The radiologic sciences curriculum is designed to prepare students for the healthcare profession as competent radiographers. Radiography is a discipline of the radiologic sciences in which a radiographer:

• Utilizes ionizing radiation and other forms of energy to produce medical images, with minimum radiation to the patient and personnel;
• Serves as a specialist in the application of knowledge in patient care, anatomy, physiology, positioning, and radiographic techniques to accurately demonstrate anatomical structures on an image receptor; and
• Provides patient care and, in some situations, initiates basic life support.

The curriculum consists of two phases: preprofessional and professional. The preprofessional phase comprises the first three semesters of the program and consists of general academic requirements together with the basic physical and life sciences. The final two and a half years comprise the professional phase of the program. Acceptance into the professional phase is on a competitive basis.

Students enrolled in the professional phase are rotated through affiliated hospitals and clinics serving as clinical settings. Students spend 15-25 hours a week in the clinical setting in addition to other courses.

Certain physical and sensory skills are related to successful performance in the occupation. Contact the Department of Health Professions before declaring radiologic sciences as your major.

The curriculum also offers advanced courses in mammography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, bone densitometry, vascular interventional technology, and cardiac-interventional technology. The student may select one advanced area for a clinical rotation beyond radiography. The curriculum integrates learning and clinical environments to promote advanced professional development.

The program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, 20 Wacker Drive, Suite 2850, Chicago, IL 60606-3182, (312) 704-5300, email: mail@jrcert.org.

Upon successful completion of the program, the student is eligible to receive the Bachelor of Science degree and apply for the primary certification examination in Radiography (R) offered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Program graduates may also achieve some, or complete documentation, of the ARRT clinical experience requirements for post-primary certification examinations in one of these advanced areas: Mammography (M), Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MR), Bone Densitometry (BD), Vascular-Interventional Radiography (VI), or Cardiac-Interventional Radiography (CV).

Admission to Professional Phase of Radiologic Sciences

Acceptance into the professional phase of the radiologic sciences program is selective due to the limited number of students approved for each clinical setting. Students are admitted to the professional phase of the program in the spring semester of the sophomore year and continue for two and a half years. The application must be submitted no later than October 1 of the preceding fall semester. Applications for the professional phase can be obtained from the Department of Health Professions. In cases where the number of qualified applicants for the professional phase exceeds the capacity, applicants will be accepted based on the highest GPA earned in RADS curriculum courses. To be considered for admission to the professional curriculum, the student must:

1. Have earned a minimum grade point average of 2.5 or better in all courses outlined in the preprofessional phase;
2. Have earned a minimum grade point average of 2.5 or better and no grade lower than a C in all science courses in the preprofessional curriculum (BIOL 225, 226; CHEM 101; MATH 113, STAT 231; NRHP 100; RADS 101);
3. Have repeated no more than two courses in the preprofessional curriculum due to a failing grade;
4. Have completed or will have completed all the preprofessional courses by the starting date of the professional curriculum; and
5. Submit documentation verifying 10 hours of observation in a radiology clinical setting.

After acceptance is granted to the professional phase, the student must meet the requirements for continuation in clinical radiography courses including but not limited to the following:

1. Clearance and verification from a healthcare worker background check which includes: criminal search, social security number verification, maiden name/AKA name search, Sexual Offender Registry/Predator Registry, National Wants & Warrants Submission, 13224 Terrorism Sanctions Regulations, U.S. Government Terrorist List Search, Investigative Application Review, Adverse Action Letter, and Medicare/Medicaid Sanctioned. This background profile must be conducted by a specified agency at a cost of $44. More details are in the acceptance letter and the Student Handbook for the Professional Phase.
2. Negative results from a 10-panel urine drug screen performed by a specified medical laboratory at a cost of $35-$75. More details are in the acceptance letter and the Student Handbook for the Professional Phase.
3. Assignments for clinical radiography courses are typically Monday-Friday during daytime hours, with the exception of the occasional evening rotation. Evening rotations during the summer session include a Saturday assignment. More details are included in the Student Handbook for the Professional Phase.
4. Travel to and from the classroom and clinical assignments is the responsibility of the student. All clinical settings are located within 40 miles of the campus. Professional liability coverage for all students assigned to a clinical setting is covered by the University.
5. Course delivery for professional phase courses is a combination of face-to-face classroom courses on campus, clinical courses off campus, and web hybrid courses.

Post-Certificate Standing in Radiologic Sciences

The radiologic sciences curriculum provides an opportunity for registered technologists to receive advanced placement credit toward the baccalaureate degree program. Technologists registered with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists will be awarded 54 credit hours to be applied to the professional curriculum. Additional information and the curriculum are available on the Radiologic Sciences, RT to BS, BS program page below.

Graduation Requirements

Students in the Department of Health Professions must meet the graduation requirements listed in the Degree and Graduation Requirements  section of the Academic Regulations page.

Programs

• Health Systems Management, BS
• Medical Laboratory Science, BS
• Radiologic Sciences, BS
• Radiologic Sciences, RT to BS, BS

• Health Systems Management, Minor