GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION

El Centro College of the Dallas County Community College District is pleased to offer the Medical Staff Services Program which is a sixty-one credit hour curriculum leading to the Associate of Applied Sciences Degree.

The program is designed to prepare individuals to perform the duties of Medical Staff Services Coordinator in health care settings, including hospitals, managed care organizations, and credentialing organizations. Upon program completion, graduates with the Associate of Applied Science degree (AAS) will be eligible to sit for the National Association of Medical Staff Services (NAMSS) Certification examination.

• Is El Centro College an accredited institution?
• What are the courses like?
• How do I attend the online courses?
• When do the courses have to be completed?
• What is a suggested starting courseload?
• What if I have to withdraw from a course?
• How do I obtain my textbooks?
• How do I obtain credit for the NAMSS Independent Study Program?
• Is there any provision for credit by examination or other alternatives to repeating a course?
• What if I have coursework over ten years old?
• What about coursework from colleges outside the United States?
• Do I attend any classes in a hospital or other health care facility?
• Do I need a physical examination prior to the capstone directed study?
• Do I need liability insurance?
• How can I be sure I have the latest information about the program?
• Are there any Board examinations after graduation?
• What if I plan to transfer to a four-year institution?
• Are there any courses I should take in high school to help me prepare?
• Whom do I contact for more information?
  

The Medical Staff Services Program at El Centro College is a 61 credit hour curriculum offered "on-line" and is the only program of its kind in this field of study in the US. Students from around the country may attend the virtual classes on their own time schedule, day or night, using their home computer and Internet access. Assignments and tests are posted on a weekly basis throughout the semester, with instructor assistance just an e-mail away. A chatroom provides group discussion opportunities with fellow students and instructors.

The Medical Staff Services (MSST) courses are offered online during the Fall and Spring semesters only. Students are encouraged to complete the general studies courses (English, psychology, anatomy/physiology, etc.) during the summer.

Students may enroll in the general education support courses on-line. These courses may be also be completed at an accredited college or university convenient to the student's home, which may significantly defray tuition costs for those students who are not Dallas County residents. Contact the Health Occupations Admissions Office for assistance in selecting transferable courses from your local college or university.

The curriculum plan of the Medical Staff Services program may be viewed online.
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All Medical Staff Services Program should be completed in sequential order. Some variances from the curriculum outline may be approved through the Health Occupations Admissions Office.

In order to continue to the next program-specific course, each Medical Staff Services course must be passed with a grade of "C" or better. General support courses may be evaluated for transfer credit upon submittal of an official transcript and catalog course description matching the course number and name on the transcript. All potential transfer courses must have a grade of "C" or better on a 4.0 grade point average scale.
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Students usually begin the program by enrolling in the "base" courses found in the first semester of the curriculum. These 8 total credit hours is a suggested maximum courseload for the first semester:

• MDCA 1313 Medical Terminology
• MDCA 1201 Human Disease/Pathophysiology
• MSST 1370 Medical Staff Services I

The total tuition for these eight hours (excluding textbooks and other materials) is estimated:

More detailed information about the estimated expenses is available. Additional information is available in the online catalog.
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In the event that a student must withdraw from one or more classes during a semester, the student must contact Pamela Farley (pdf5540@dcccd.edu) to process a formal withdrawal from the course(s). Tuition refund minus the registration fee (nonrefundable) will be determined according to the following schedule for the Fall and Spring semesters:

• Prior to the first class day of the semester - 100%
• Through the 15th class day of the semester - 70%
• During the 16th - 20th class days of the semester - 25%
• After the 20th class day of the semester - NONE

NOTE: The first class day is considered as the official date when the semester begins. "Class days" also include Saturdays and Sundays. Processing refund checks normally require a minimum of one month from date of approval. More information is available.
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Obtain textbooks for the online courses through online book vendors or specified vendor. Any supplemental textbooks required will be designated by instructors and are usually listed on the Dallas County Community College District Telecollege website.
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El Centro College will evaluate and award credit for two modules of the NAMSS Independent Study Program through a portfolio for credit process. Credit can be awarded if the student is currently enrolled in coursework through El Centro College or the Telecollege.

The Medical Staff Services two modules which are eligible for evaluation and the Medical Staff Services courses for which they will substitute are:

Students who have completed one or both of these modules should submit their certificate of completion for each module to Pamela Farley for review. The student may be required to enroll in a HDEV 0100, a 3 credit-hour portfolio review course and the vehicle by which college-level credit may be awarded for nontraditional learning. A student may receive credit for both modules during one semester by enrolling in the HDEV 0100 course.

Send NAMSS certificate(s) of completion and a letter requesting credit review to:

Pamela Farley
Health Occupations Admissions Office
El Centro College
Main and Lamar
Dallas, TX 75202-3604

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CLEP, DANTES, and Credit by Examination may also be completed in lieu of repeating a course. CLEP, DANTES, and Credit by Examination are available to a student enrolled at a DCCCD campus, but may not be requested for courses in which the student is currently enrolled.

Credit for a CLEP, DANTES, or Credit by Examination will be considered only if a documented letter grade or numerical score is presented for evaluation. For more information regarding the acceptance of CLEP, DANTES, and Credit by Examination, please contact the Health Occupations Admissions Office.

Applicants with coursework more than ten years old who wish to have that transcripted work ignored under the "Academic Fresh Start" provision should petition the Registrar in writing for that consideration. If approved, the transcript need not be submitted, however, a copy of the Registrar's letter granting the "Academic Fresh Start" consideration should be submitted with the Invasive Cardiovascular Technology program application.

Consideration of courses for transfer credit from colleges and universities outside the United States will be limited to science and math coursework completed less than five years prior to program admission.

Before foreign credentials will be considered for transfer credit, the student must arrange the evaluation of transcripts and related documentation by a professional evaluation agency. After the professional evaluation is complete, the student must then submit the original documentation and a certified English translation to the Health Occupations Admissions Office. The student is responsible for all costs of the evaluation and translation of foreign credentials.

The Medical Staff Services student completes a capstone experience (MSST 1380 - Medical Staff Services Directed Study) during the final semester in the program. The capstone experience site will be a hospital, health maintenance organization or health insurance organization. The capstone requires approximately 20 hours per week during regular office hours on-site throughout the 16 week semester.

The capstone experience will consist of a written, competency-based learning plan with emphasis on organizational and problem-solving skills and will be formulated by the student, the instructor, and an employer at a designated site.

Students are responsible for providing their own transportation to the clinical site. Dallas area residents enrolled in 6 credit hours or more during a Fall or Spring semester, or 4 credit hours or more during a Summer semester are entitle to a free DART rail/bus pass for that semester. DART passes are available after the semester begins. Contact the Accounting Office for details (214.860.2041).
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A physical examination and immunization record form will be sent to an accepted student prior to the capstone Directed Study. The completed form must be returned to the Health Occupations Admissions Office before the student begins the capstone course.

The form documents a medical history, physical examination, and current record of the following immunizations:

• Tuberculin skin test within the last 6 months (if positive, chest x-ray required within last 2 years)
• Tetanus/diphtheria current within 10 years
• Measles/mumps/rubella ("MMR") including 2 doses of measles vaccine required either separately or in combination (MMR)
• Hepatitis B series
• Varicella disclaimer

Students must have completed the first injection of the Hepatitis B series prior to registration for the Medical Staff Services program. They are responsible for submitting documentation verifying subsequent completion of the second and third injection to the Health Occupations Admissions Office. Health situations (i.e., pregnancy, allergies, and nursing mothers) that may prohibit the use of the hepatitis B vaccine must be documented by a physician, and a waiver signed by the student.

All Health Occupations students pay liability insurance fees. The cost to the student is less than enrolling in an individual professional liability policy with comparable coverage. The student blanket professional liability policy covers students while they are participating in clinical activities that are a part of, and a requirement of, the student's curriculum.

The student professional liability insurance does not cover students when employed in the hospital. The student liability insurance policy expires upon date of graduation. Students are not allowed in the clinical setting if their tuition and fees have not been paid.
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This information packet is revised periodically, therefore, the information in this packet is subject to change without notice. Please ensure that you have received the most current information regarding the program curriculum, application requirements and admission procedure by staying in touch with the Health Occupations Admissions Office.
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Some courses that you will find helpful are:

We have a list of contacts available at El Centro College.

You may also download an information packet. The file is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader software, downloadable free from www.adobe.com.

Information about career opportunities and requirements for the board exam are available from the National Association of Medical Staff Services (NAMSS).

NOTE: The El Centro College Health/Legal and Continuing/Workforce Education Division reserves the right to make changes in program enrollment capacity. Program guidelines are subject to change. Students are advised to obtain the latest program information from the Health Occupations Admissions Office (Room A-140).
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