Community Health Care
Community Health Care is an ideal career path for people looking to make a difference in the daily lives of others. Vancouver Career College's 43-week Community Health Care program prepares students to work in community centres, care facilities, schools and more.
This program teaches students how to run rehabilitation programs (including music and art therapy), plan recreational programs, and how to work with the elderly and people with special needs, including behavioural disabilities, mental health disorders, and developmental disorders.
Students will put these skills into practice as part of three separate practicum placements, for a combined total of 10 weeks. The first practicum placement is in a non-clinical care facility such as a community centre; the second takes place in an intermediate care facility; and a third placement gives students experience in an extended care facility.
In addition to the Community Health Care Worker Diploma, graduates of this program will receive a Long Term Geriatric Care Aid Certificate, Resident Care Attendant Diploma, Alzheimer's Certificate, Mental Health Community Care Certificate, Basics of Medications Certificate, Standard First Aid Certificate, CPR "C" Certificate, Food Safe Level 1 Certificate and a WHMIS Certificate.
“I chose Vancouver Career College because it offers the Community Health Care program. I enjoyed Anatomy and Physiology and the Clinical Skills modules the most. My instructors were all extremely helpful, beyond just classroom work. I liked the fast-paced environment and the information offered. And in the Clinical Skills, I liked seeing and doing the procedures that I would be taking into practicum.” - Tricia R. Vancouver Career College Graduate
Program Courses
The program outline below is for British Columbia.
| COURSE CODE | COURSE NAME | CREDITS |
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- Students will gain a better understanding of themselves through an exploration of their personal attributes, transferable skills and learning styles. This course will introduce techniques for time, conflict, and stressmanagement and develop interpersonal communication skills. Fundamental study and motivation skills will be covered, preparing students to excel in their program of choice. Students will also prepare a professional resume andlearn how to write effective cover letters.
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- The Canadian Health Care System will be explored in this module, with emphasis on the structure and policies of the BC Ministry of Health. This introductory course will also set the foundation for understanding and valuing basic human needs, respecting each client as a holistic human being. Students will be introduced to the dimensions of professional caring behaviours and become oriented to the important skills and conduct for success in the program. Professional responsibilities and the role of the health care worker will be explored. The hierarchy and communication among team members as well as the role of staffing will be addressed. The role, scope of practice and responsibilities of the nursing assistant will be defined. Students will learn to incorporate the roles of the interdisciplinary team while caring for the individual.
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- The dimensions of wellness and their interrelationship to a healthylifestyle will be explored. Understanding stress will provide studentswith the information to become successful caregivers. The learner willhave an understanding of the physiological response of addictivebehaviours and the role they play in health care. Other maladaptivebehaviours commonly used in today’s lifestyle will be introduced withinthis module.
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- The processes of interaction and communication, verbal and nonverbal communication, body language and cross-cultural communication will be addressed in this module. The use of empathy, genuineness and respect will be a priority focus. Students will explore and improve the caring interaction and effective communication with residents, families, staff, and peers. This module looks at alternative communication means for those who are visually or hearing impaired, including elderly residents with special challenges. Students also get an introduction to Bliss and American Sign Language.
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- An intensive study of the terminology concerning cells, tissues, organs, systems and the effects of normal aging on the body. The major body systems will be explored. This course enables students to describe and explain, at a basic level, the gross anatomy of the human body. The function of the body organs on the body system and the integration of these functions will be studied.
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- Covered in this module are critical topics that involve the care of the chronically ill. As a starting point to this module, students explore the chain of infection. Students gain an understanding of key concepts in the prevention of transmission and the care of those with communicable disorders such as HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C. Students also develop their understanding of a range of diseases including Parkinson’s Disease and Diabetes Mellitus and neurological conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Brain Injury, Spinal Cord injury and Epilepsy.
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- The focus of this one-week module is to enable students to report and document vital observations made while communicating with clients. Students will learn the importance of subjective and objective information while correctly identifying acute and chronic needs of the resident. Students learn how to write effective care plans and chart appropriate information.
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- Human growth and development are addressed in this module, with an emphasis on old age and the psychology of aging. Students will further explore basic human needs across the lifespan.
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- Covered in this module are such critical topics as care of the elderlyand chronically ill, caring for persons with Alzheimer’s disease anddementia. This course facilitates students to work in special needsareas with those who may require added assistance to meet basicphysical and psychological needs, including elderly residents withspecial challenges.
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- The Home Support role will provide students with the ability to care and support individuals within the community. Typically personal care and support includes emotional support, assistance with personal hygiene and activities of daily living, upkeep of home, food preparation and possibly assisting with medications. Students investigate their legal responsibilities, the implications and guidelines for safe and effective assistance with medications. Drug classifications, advantages, disadvantages, considerations for administration and side effects are also studied, along with practice of medication administration techniques. Students will receive their Level One Foodsafe and WHMIS certificates through external examination.
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- This module will build cross-cultural understanding around the issuesof death and dying. Attitudes about death as well as the needs of thedying will be addressed along with physical changes, grief process,bereavement, levels of prevention and postmortem care. The roles offamily are discussed as well as active and inactive family participationand support networks, psychologists, social workers andparaprofessionals in community health care.
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- Students focus on key features of responsible and accountable care, including the theory and practice behind promoting safety and comfort; proper body mechanics for safety, positioning, transfer and ambulation; measuring and recording vital signs; personal care and hygiene; general comfort and rest measures; nutritional needs and feeding. Students will receive their Standard First Aid Training and CPR C certificates through external examination. Students will also gain an introduction to clinical pharmacology and medication administration in this module. This hands-on module will provide students with key practical skills for Practicum.
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- A 3-week supervised learning position in intermediate care. The practicum supervisor and the practicum host will complete performance evaluation.
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- A supervised learning position practicing all aspects of personal health care in an extended care facility by providing physical and emotional support to residents. Students manage multiple clients, preparing them for demands in the job force. Both the practicum host and the instructor will complete performance evaluations.
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- Two week preceptorship.
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- During this module students will be presented with a simulatedexperience in which they plan and teach some basic life skills for thosewho may be living with disability, disorder, or limited resources.Students will be challenged to apply knowledge of group work whileremaining focused on the goals. Students will be required to facilitateand search out needed supports and resources to aid the family and orthe individual to meet their basic needs. This module will introduce thestudents to different roles played by individuals when working with agroup.
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- In this module, students will gain an understanding of human development from birth through adolescence. Students will also cover the psychology of growth in humans.
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- This module deals with physical, social and emotional growth and development during infancy, childhood, and adolescence. Students will explore human needs in infancy, childhood, and adolescence. This module also introduces common disorders for school-aged children. Students will focus on various aspects of Learning Disabilities and Mental Challenges. Further exploration will lead the student into the world of autism and Aspergers Disorder with a brief look at Fetal Alcohol Effects. Emphasis will be placed on facilitating children with these disorders in a structured setting or classroom while maintaining the least restrictive environment.
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- To aid in their understanding of developmental disabilities, this module starts with an introduction to genetics. Following the study of genetics, students will gain a better understanding of disorders such as Fragile X, Cerebral Palsy, Spinal Bifida and Down’s syndrome. Knowledge of these disorders will aid those wishing to pursue a career caring for those with developmental disabilities.
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- This module will address the philosophy of behaviour management, non-aversive behaviour management and non-violent crisis intervention. The second and third week of this module will focus on issues surrounding mental health taking an extensive look at personality disorders and Schizophrenia. The mental health component will develop students’ knowledge and skills to work as Mental Health Workers.
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- Facilitating recreational activities, using arts and crafts and musictherapy are topics discussed in this module. Students learn to createprogram plans including the setting of short and long-term physical,cognitive and emotional goals for clients with special needs. Thismodule takes a holistic view of assisting in the fulfillment of clientneeds.
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- A 3-week (120 hours) non-supervised learning position with children,adolescents and young adults in non-clinical settings such as schoolsand community centres by providing physical and emotionalmanagement and support.
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- Two week preceptorship.
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- Students will have the opportunity to review and discuss the final practicum placement. Theory that has been presented throughout the program will be revisited and students will complete review assignments and a final competency exam. Simulated practice will be given in panel interviews as well as practice scenarios for job interviews. Students will update their resumes and cover letters. Students will have the use of a Job Search lab which has unlimited Internet access, a job search resource library and a fax machine and phone for contacting prospective employers.