What is a PDR?

Well, I know you can answer that question now. We'll work in the PDR again tomorrow and I'll have a special assignment for you to do in class. Let's talk about drug interactions and by the way, talk to your family again about medic-alert bracelets. They save lives!

Great job on the abbreviations today. You really remembered them well. Tomorrow we'll talk about the reproductive system.

GHS students: Bring in green and blue forms. Disneyland form is mailed from home! Ask your parents to mail in the registration and check to the address listed on the form.

See you tomorrow for more fun and adventure in Medical Occupations.

Have a great evening,

~Mrs. Erceg

Hello All ~

Today we started looking at the endocrine system. We'll finish the film regarding achondroplasia tomorrow and talk more about hormones and what roles they play. This week we also look at the reproductive system, abbreviations, legal and ethical issues and pharmacology.

IMPORTANT DATES: 10/7 TB testing
10/8 FIELD TRIP to LPC
10/9 TB tests read and documented

NEW CMAA MEMBERS!!! Congratulations to: Rachel, Brittany R., Natalie, Madelyn, Grace,
who joined last week and today.....Poonam and Heather.
WAY TO GO!

Please bring in names of medications that you would like to look up. We are going to learn how to use the "PDR" - Physician's Desk Reference. If you have one, please bring it tomorrow. THANKS!

Have a great evening.

~Mrs. Erceg

Happy Friday Everyone !

Hello Students,

I love the drawings you did today. Some of the "muscle" people are very colorful characters.

Next week I will be meeting with each of you to discuss your progress in the class. I will want to talk to you about attendance, academics, attitude/participation and other classroom behaviors.
You already know that your work and attitudes in this class, along with your other classes, will prove to me your readiness for community classroom. I have confidence you will all do very well.

We will cover the endocrine and reproductive systems next week as well as pharmacology. Feel free to bring in questions and names of medications (no personal information attached).

MT# 4 will sneak up on you, so please get it done. This assignment will take about 20 to 30 minutes to complete. Have fun with it. Find something that's "just too good to be true". Another assignment, due 10/17, is the "Pioneer in Medical History". Tell me who you have chosen so I can give you an idea how much research material is available.

Have a really great weekend.

~Mrs. Erceg

Is is the "right eye" or the "left eye"? OD? OS?

....or is it both eyes? Well, you certainly learned a lot of medical abbreviations today. You all did a great job defining the abbreviations on the handout. You'll be using a lot of these next week when we cover pharmacology. By the way, your examples regarding the personal qualities of a healthcare worker were very impressive. Keep up the good work. I'm enjoying the observation of brilliant minds at work.

Tomorrow we will review our terms on the board, draw some pictures of muscles and continue our discussions on internship prep and medicolegal/ethical issues. Please be prepared for these discussions.

By the way, are you keeping an "eye" on the website: www.nobelprize.org?

Have a great evening,

~Mrs. Erceg

p.s. Joke: Why didn't the skeleton cross the road? Answer: Because he didn't have the "guts".
LOL LOL LOL HA HA

p.s.s. Psssssst...I'll ask you what was on the blog tonight. If you can't answer....uh oh.

Hello From Mrs. Squeaky

Well, the laryngitis was a little better today. I hope you liked the DVD on "Life Before Anesthesia" - Ugh. What a thought.

I'm looking forward to meeting with all of you one-on-one next week. I need those kind of meetings with you so we can really understand each other. I need to really know you and have a good relationship with each student to make the community classroom experience work...and work well. I am observing behaviors in class to help me determine if students will be placed in the community. I send out the very best, and only the best to clients, doctors, clinics and hospitals. Continue to prove to me how mature and responsible you all are.

Grades and progress reports will be available at our meeting. Please bring your questions and your requests/information regarding community classroom.

Please print out your MTP #3 tonight (due Friday!) so you can feel satisfied that the work is done and printed. I am looking forward to seeing this assignment. It is such a great skill to know how to research a disease and how they are treated. Knowledge is power!

We'll continue our work tomorrow on bones and muscles, abbreviations and legal/ethical issues.

Have a wonderful evening.

~Mrs. Erceg

Can you say "laryngitis"?

Thank you all for your patience - it's tough to teach when you can't talk well. Thanks go to Diana and Renee for being my "voice" today by reading aloud to the class when needed.

We'll continue learning about bones and muscles tomorrow. I'm off to rest and get better. This week we will look at medical abbreviations and legal terms too.

Thanks and I'll see you tomorrow!

~Mrs. Erceg

p.s. Do you know of any "Pioneers" in Medical History?

Bones and Muscles This Week!

Hi Everyone,

Another busy week ahead...but nothing we can't handle. We are learning about the skeletal system and muscular system, as well as medical abbreviations, and legal and ethical issues. Here are some reminders for this week:

Please use classroom # now (925) 606-4800 x 3640 - Do not use my cell phone # at this time. Please leave all messages at the classroom phone #. Thank you so much.

Please bring in the field trip form- we almost have them all.

MT Project #3 due Friday. Please have your paper reviewed and edited. I'll help if needed, okay?

WE HAVE TWO NEW CMAA MEMBERS! Natalie and Brittany R. Congratulations!

Have a great evening and I'll see you tomorrow.

~Mrs. Erceg

Happy Friday !

Hello Everyone,

Just a few reminders for Monday:

Forms - GHS students/forms and both AM and PM Field Trip Forms

Vaccinations/Immunizations were due Friday. Please contact me if you have not turned them in.

CMAA Membership - I'm looking forward to having new members for the East Bay Region of
the California Medical Assistants Association. Looks great in the portfolio and on the resume' !

Next week: Bones and Muscles, Medical Law and Ethics, Medical Abbreviations...and more.

Take care and have a great weekend.

~Mrs. Erceg

Medical Terminology in a Flash (or with Flash Cards!)

Dear Students,

So...planning on making some flash cards? I hope so! They will help you in preparing for tests and exams. Make cards for prefixes, root words, suffixes and abbreviations. Remember, color coding and the card ring - keep them nice and organized. This is not a requirement, just a strong recommendation.

Some of you still need to turn in vaccination information. Please get them in!

Also for tomorrow, please turn in field trip forms and for the AM GROUP only....the GHS info sent home for parents to sign.

COLLEGE FAIR TONIGHT! LHS 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Extra Credit - 10 points for info on health and/or medical programs at colleges from the health fair. You have to prove you were there, so have someone sign the materials for you.

Confidentiality and HIPAA - more on that as we prepare ourselves for the workplace. Please bring in any stories from parents, family and friends that you can share. How does the rumor mill ruin people's reputations, privacy, etc.?

TOMORROW: MT #2 is due and we have a test on UTS/DIG/INTEG/BODY PLANES.

Have a lovely evening,

~Mrs. Erceg

Doing things in "Advance" is a good thing !

Dear Students,

I know end of life issues are a tough thing to talk about, but you did really well! Advance directives are a really good tool for families and health care workers. This process takes away confusion and guilt about a friend or family member's wishes. We'll be referring to it again in class. Tomorrow, please ask me...."What's a notary"? "What is hospice"? "What is palliative care"? I'll have answers for you.

Brianna - THANK YOU for all of the stuffed animals. They will be very much appreciated by those in need. I encourage all of you to talk to your friends. Remember, clean and gently used "friends" are needed. Thanks to all students who brought in stuffed animals and teddy bears.

Reminder about call in procedure: PARENTS: I need a call before class start time or note within 24 hours of an absence, thank you.

We are having a canned food drive at school. Care to donate one can?

FIELD TRIP - OCTOBER 8th - PLEASE make sure the time is written on the form --
12:15 to 3:15. We'll meet at LPC at 12:15.

This trip is to visit the programs in allied health at LPC. O.R. Tech, Health and Human Services, EMT and Administrative Medical Assisting.

Thanks and have a great evening.

~Mrs. Erceg

Who's your favorite "Pioneer" in Medical History?

Hi Folks,

We're looking up some people that had (or are currently having) an impact on health care. There were a lot of great suggestions today from the text. Keep looking...there's quite a few people to choose from.

PLEASE REMEMBER: Pack a snack! Healthy snacks are a must to keep our bodies fueled and running smoothly. Our brains need fuel too.....it's hard to focus when we are hungry and brains work better with good nutrition!

For tomorrow- What's a skin biopsy? Why do we send specimens to a pathology laboratory? You probably know the answers, but let's talk about these questions tomorrow.

Have a nice evening, okay? I will if you will !

~Mrs. Erceg

The Skin You're In

Hi Everyone,

The integumentary system is interesting and is our first line of defense. We must protect our skin in return. Do you remember the A, B, C, D and E of melanoma and skin cancer? We'll talk more tomorrow.

Reminders for PARENTS - Please call if you were unable to come to "Back to School Night". I will be happy to speak with you on the phone, or better yet, meet you in person. Also, please be sure your son or daughter has brought their vaccination and immunization information in to me. All students have been reminded there is no gum chewing in class. This is preparation for the community classroom experience.
My number (925) 606-4800 x 3640

The nobel prize announcement is right around the corner! Be prepared for the 20 points of credit for bringing the name(s) of the winner of the Nobel prize for Medicine/Physics. This is a great site to look up famous people in medical history too. (You'll be getting a biography assignment). Go to the website: http://www.nobelprize.org/

This week we'll talk about HIPAA - the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. As health care workers, we must protect medical records and information for our patients. What is HIPAA? Do you know?

Have a great evening.

~Mrs. Erceg

Thank you all !

Hello CMAA East Bay Region Students and Guests ~

45.....count 'em....45! I was so impressed by all the people that came
to the CMAA meeting this morning. Thanks to everyone for coming. I am hopeful that many of you will choose to become a member of CMAA and consider taking the certification exam next summer and become a California Certified Medical Assistant.

We learned quite a bit about how to save our backs and prevent injuries through ergonomics.
Congratulations on earning your CME Certificates. (Continuing Medical Education)

Take care and I'll see you Monday.

~Mrs. Erceg

Happy Friday !

Hello Medical Occupations ~

Another great week with all of my great students.

I'm really looking forward to seeing many of you tomorrow and here are the details:

California Medical Assistants Association
East Bay Regional Meeting

On the Border Restaurant/Dublin PLEASE ARRIVE AT 9:45 A.M. Thanks!
Saturday, Sept. 13th 10:00 a.m.
Speaker: Betsy Leff of Keenan and Associates - "Ergonomics in the Health Care Setting"

For those of you ordering lunch, please bring along the amount for your meal. By the way, feel free to invite friends and family members.

Reminder: IMMUNIZATION/VACCINE INFO DUE 9/19. Please have your parents call me right away if needed.

Have a wonderful weekend!

~Mrs. Erceg

It's great getting to know you and your families!

Hello Future Medical Professionals,

What an incredible turnout last night. So many parents and family members came to the classroom to find out what you do in Medical Occupations every day. This quote sums up my feeling about teacher/parent/student communication:

"Kids thrive when they feel the adults in their lives see them in a consistent way. So parents and teachers should try to use the precious minutes together in person or on the phone to reach an agreement about a student's strengths and challenges and to unite on the best ways each can respond to them". So, with that said, I would like to thank the parents and family members that came last night. For those who were unable to make it, I will be happy to meet with you over the phone, or hopefully here at school. Please call me to make an appointment or feel free to email at lerceg@livermore.k12.ca.us

Website to help you with MT #1 - the one with pronunciations: http://ec.hku.hk/mt/
Website to help you understand more about "flatulence": http://www.heptune.com/farts.html

The bears and animals got picked up today...THANKS to all who participated. We're still collecting by the way...so all of you can still bring in stuffed animals. Ask friends too!

GREAT job on your feedback today regarding the article in Consumer Health Magazine. I have a lot of really great critical thinkers....our future medical professionals!

Sending my best to you and yours,

~Mrs. Erceg

Back to School Night

Hi Everyone...


Your parents and families are about to arrive. I'll see you tomorrow for more fun with the digestive system!

Have a great evening!

~Mrs. Erceg

What is an appendix?

Hi Folks,

Why do we have an appendix? Do you know? Is there any information out there that you can bring in and share tomorrow? If you do, there's a reward for you. Write it down or type it on a piece of paper. Hand it in to me and I will date stamp it immediately.

Tomorrow, we'll talk more about the digestive system. What is flatulence? What is borborygumus? If you can answer either one of these tomorrow, I will be very proud. We'll have a "gas" tomorrow.

Do you have a DVR or TIVO? Program some documentary type shows about health education or medicine. Maybe you'll find some good shows to watch and keep you informed. There's one I found..."Discovery Health" and "Dr. Know". There is also..."Dr. G - Medical Examiner".

Remember to bring in your immunization records!!! DUE 9/19 !!!! Talk to your parents and your doctor's office.

Back to School Night tomorrow !!!! Parents: Bring your questions - see you tomorrow.

Have a great evening!

~Mrs. Erceg

It's Good to Be Back

Hello Students,

The classroom phone is taking messages now, but continue to use my cell phone # through tomorrow just in case! (510) 305-5111 - make sure it's programmed into your cell phone.

Thanks to all of you that participated (and may still participate) in the Good News Bears program. Our countertop is filling up and feel free to bring in more. Some of you asked friends to help... and they did!

Please get started on the MT Project #1. It's an easy one...due Friday 9/12.

PLEASE ask your "Back to School Night" representative (parent or relative) to be here on Wednesday night at 6:30 for Period 1 and 6:50 for Period 2. For my afternoon class, ask parents to arrive at 7:30. Room 108 - Granada High School.

We have a speaker set up for the CMAA meeting on Saturday, 9/13. Invited friends and family too. They are welcome to come. Please bring about $10.00 if you can so you can order a light lunch. It will be at the "On the Border" restaurant in Dublin (Hacienda Crossings) at 10:00 a.m. to about 11:30 am. We will have an education session, you'll earn certificates and see us honor a newly certified Medical Assistant!

Wasn't it nice to hear the R.N. speak today? She's only a few years older than you and look what she has accomplished. Remember, she's available for questions in the future.

Remember immunization records! I need those by 9/19. Talk to your parents about it.

Share this tonight: HEPATOSPLENOMEGALY - Share what you learned today!

Have a great evening,

~Mrs. Erceg

Happy Friday

Dear Students,

I hope the last two days went well and you liked the substitute. I'm sure you did a great job on the assignment. The California Medical Assistants Association (CMAA) conference is going very well. Good speakers today and we had an open forum discussing matters regarding the organization. I wish you could have been here. There were a lot of students from the local community college's Medical Assisting Program. They were helpful in getting us through the day. The conference ends on Sunday. More educational speakers tomorrow and Sunday.
There are lots of new animals in the classroom.....grrrrrreat!

Next week, we start the digestive system. Nutrition is so important to your mood and overall health.

I'm looking forward to seeing you Monday!

~Mrs. Erceg

Mind, Body, Spirit

Dear students,

I am enjoying the medical conference in San Luis Obispo. I have a lot to share with you when I return. I hope you are doing well on your assignment, "8 weeks to optimum health". Take good care of your mind, body, and spirit, and have a good day tomorrow.

~Mrs. Erceg

I'll Miss You All!

Hi Everyone...

I'm so proud of the way you handled yourselves today. It's obvious you are interested in taking good care of patients one day. You were very attentive during lecture and discussions. Good questions today about the urinary tract system. Keep them coming!

Talk to parents and relatives.....I want to have a record number of folks here for "Back to School Night" on Wednesday, Sept. 10th. Thank you in advance for communicating to parents how important that evening will be to you, me and your future community classroom sites.

Tomorrow and Friday I will be at a medical conference for CMAA (cmaa-ca.org). The sub will need your help and cooperation and I know I can trust all of you on that. The instructions are on the board for the 8-week plan and an extra assigment by the sign in sheets. Please leave sign in sheets for me. If any questions come up you need help with, ask Ms. Mancuso next door or call my cell phone. The number is (510) 305-5111. I'll be checking for messages.

A lot of stuffed animals came today!!! Yippeeee! Please bring one or more in as soon as you can. Jeannie from Good News Bears will be here tomorrow to speak to the afternoon class.

The 8-week plan video/assignment is scheduled for tomorrow and Friday. Check out Dr. Weil's website tonight. This will help you quite a bit. www.drweil.com

Keep checking the blog. I'll do my best to blog you while I'm away!

Take care and have a great couple of days. See you Monday.

~Mrs. Erceg

Time for Anatomy

Hi Folks,

This week begins our journey into anatomy, medical terminology and pathology. Keep those binders very neat with tabs for ESLR's and a combination tab for the three subjects above.

Please bring in your stuffed animals! Kids (and adults) really need them.

Back to School night is September 10th here at GHS. LHS has theirs too, so LHS parents....I need your help on this. I would like to know if a parent or relative can be here on that night at GHS to learn more about medical occupations.

We are looking at careers in medicine this week and medical specialities. Have your heard of any that are unfamiliar? We will continue to investigate. Here's a site: www.bls.gov

We had some tardies today and one absence with no call in advance. Please be very careful to not let this happen. It has already affected a few students, but no fear! Just make sure a call comes in to me before the beginning of class time!

Keep those immunization/vaccination records coming. We need to collect those as soon as possible.

Have a great evening and thanks for another great day. I hope you had fun

~Mrs. Erceg