The Direct Care concentration allows the students to explore careers focused on changing the health status of the patient over time.

Health professionals in this concentration work directly with patients; they may provide care, treatment, counseling and health education information. Clinical experience requires students to obtain the Hepatitis B Vaccination, Flu Shot, and TB Test, as well as two (2) COVID vaccines. After successful completion of the Classroom instructions on skills and Medical Terminology, student will go to clinical area to use knowledge and apply to Patient Care.

• Healthcare Safety

• Infection Control

• Patient Care

• Medical Terminology

• Hand washing

• Safety & Body Mechanics

• Bathing

• Feeding & Diets (Therapeutic)

• Therapeutic Communication

• Positioning Patient

• Infection Control

• Vital Signs

• Bed manners

• Patient Rights

• Personal Protective Equipment usage

• Transfer of Patient to Wheel Chair

Health Clinical Experience is designed to be used in conjunction with a Health Science Education course that includes a clinical specialization experience. Instructional content focuses on extending career preparation and technical skills associated with a previously selected clinical specialization.

Medical Terminology introduces students to the language of medicine. Students will gain an understanding of basic elements, rules of building and analyzing medical words, and medical terms associated with the body as a whole. Utilizing a systems approach, students will define, interpret, and pronounce medical terms relating to structure and function, pathology, diagnosis, clinical procedures, oncology, and pharmacology. In addition to medical terms, common abbreviations applicable to each system will be interpreted.

• CPR & First Aid/AED

• OSHA-10

• NOCTI

• Certified Direct Care Worker

• Patient Care in Hospital & Assisted Living facilities

• Home Health

• Clinic and Doctor’s office

• Hospice Care

• Mathematical

• Ability to lift 50 lbs.

• Team work

• Reading and Communication skills

• Leadership Development

• Technical Skills

Students interested in the Direct Care Worker training at PCTC should be patient, and be compassionate. Students will also need to be drug free throughout the program.

Student must obtain and show proof of the Hepatitis B, Flu and two (2) COVID Vaccinations as well as a TB Test prior to working in the clinical setting.

Students must maintain a “B” or better in each course to continue in the program and to be permitted to go to the clinical setting.

Students are required to wear scrub uniforms and clinic shoes at all times in the clinical setting. Students must provide their own clinic shoes meeting OSHA requirements.

This program participates in the West Virginia Department of Education Simulated Workplace environment.
For more information and requirements, click here.

Students will be provided with any technology instruction, devices and software required.

Students may enroll in SkillsUSA and/or HOSA

1 Academic Years (10 months) – 540 clock hours

Consisting of eight (4), nine-week courses of 135 clock hours each

Course Frequency: Each course offered once each academic year

• 0711 Foundations of Health Science

• 0715 Advanced Principles of Health Science

• 0789 Clinical Specialty I

• 0790 Clinical Specialty 2

• 0721 Embedded Medical Terminology

Students must earn at least an 80% on each course final exam, maintain a “B” average in the program and maintain at least 90% attendance in each course to be eligible to test for certifications.

This course is designed to allow instructional content to focus on basic medical terminology, growth and development, nutrition, health maintenance practices and healthcare delivery systems. It is designed to provide the student with knowledge and technical skills required for infection control and the prevention of disease transmission, CPR and First Aid.

Instructional content will focus on healthcare safety, environmental safety processes and procedures, ethical and legal responsibilities, and mathematical computations. Medical terminology and the reinforcement, expansion, and enhancement of biology content specific to diseases and disorders are an integral part of the course. Instruction will incorporate project and problem-based healthcare practices and procedures to demonstrate the importance of these skills. Students will develop basic technical skills required for all health career specialties including client/patient privacy, communication, teamwork, and occupational safety, and be provided with opportunities to obtain certifications in HIPPA/Data Privacy and health care safety.

This course is designed to allow the student to choose a career work-based experience from the following specializations: Health Occupations, Certified Nursing Assistant, Certified ECG Technician, Certified Health Unit Coordinator, Certified Patient Care Technician, Certified Phlebotomy Technician, Community Emergency Response Team, Dental Aide, Dietary Aide, Direct Care Worker, Electronic Health Record Specialist, Environmental Services, Orientation to Practical Nursing, Laundry Aide, Physical Therapy Aide, Pre-Pharmacy Technician, Imagery Aide, Veterinary Science Aide. Upon successful completion of the prerequisite courses in the Health Science Education Program of Study, students will be provided the opportunity in Clinical Specialty I to participate in a work based clinical experience. Students choose a health career specialty for in-depth study and must complete a minimum of 25-55 hours in an applicable clinical rotation. Instruction is guided by career-specific content skill sets that must be mastered before students are eligible to attain established credentials and/or industry validation. Within this course, students focus upon employability skills and career development, and apply healthcare information technology and technical skills. Instruction will incorporate project and problem-based healthcare practices and procedures to demonstrate the criticality of these skills. Due to healthcare industry standards, exemplary attendance is mandatory.

This course is designed to allow the student to choose a career work-based experience from the following specializations: Health Occupations, Certified Nursing Assistant, Certified ECG Technician, Certified Health Unit Coordinator, Certified Patient Care Technician, Certified Phlebotomy Technician, Community Emergency Response Team, Dental Aide, Dietary Aide, Direct Care Worker, Electronic Health Record Specialist, Environmental Services, Orientation to Practical Nursing, Laundry Aide, Physical Therapy Aide, Pre-Pharmacy Technician, Imagery Aide, Veterinary Science Aide. Upon successful completion of the prerequisite courses in the Health Science Education Program of Study, students will be provided the opportunity in Clinical Specialty I to participate in a work based clinical experience. Students choose a health career specialty for in-depth study and must complete a minimum of 25-55 hours in an applicable clinical rotation. Instruction is guided by career-specific content skill sets that must be mastered before students are eligible to attain established credentials and/or industry validation. Within this course, students focus upon employability skills and career development, and apply healthcare information technology and technical skills. Instruction will incorporate project and problem-based healthcare practices and procedures to demonstrate the criticality of these skills. Due to healthcare industry standards, exemplary attendance is mandatory.

Through the study of medical terminology, the student will be introduced to the language of medicine. Students will gain an understanding of basic elements, rules of building and analyzing medical words, and medical terms associated with the human body utilizing a systems approach.