The Academy for Clinical Excellence in association with Austin Community College offers several courses open to Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) wishing to increase their clinical knowledge and expand important clinical skills. These course require approval by your department director and include the following courses:
Acute Care Skills-- The course is designed to familiarize students with the role of the Clinical Technician in caring for the more acutely ill and medically complex patient. Curriculum will cover the care of patients with I.V.'s, feeding tubes, suction devices, dialysis, oxygen therapies, as well as those patients on specialty beds and with traction, casts, splints and trapeze setups.
Aseptic Technique and Skills-- This course is designed to review and update information related to infection control. The curriculum covers such subjects as normal and aging skin, the Chain of Infection, the application of sterile field, urinary catheterization, uncomplicated wound care and thermal therapies. Removal of staples, sutures and peripheral I.V. infusions will be included.
Basic Phlebotomy Skills-- This course will provide foundational skills in the safe collection of blood for the purpose of clinical laboratory analysis. The curriculum covers such subjects as selection and use of equipment, proper site preparation, collection of specimens using a variety of techniques, types of blood collection tubes, standard/universal precautions, prioritizing patients and sample tubes, complications and special considerations in blood collection. Austin Community College provides 16 contact hours for nurses with no previous training in telemetry and monitoring upon successful completion of this educational activity.
Electrocardiography (ECG) Introduction-- Fundamentals of the anatomy and physiology of the circulatory system, dynamics of cardiac function as relates to mechanics and electrical elements of the heartbeat rate and rhythm. 12-lead EKG is used to identify lethal and dangerous life threatening dysrhythmias. Includes role of caregiver in reporting and participating in “code” situations. Designed for the unlicensed employee in a clinic or general nursing unit.
Telemetry Monitoring-- Designed specifically for the patient care technician or nurse assigned to monitor the telemetry unit. Includes a foundational understanding of the heart, the implications of decreased cardiac output, and interpretation of electrical activity with an emphasis on recognition of common and potentially “lethal” dysrhythmias. Austin Community College provides 16 contact hours for nurses with no previous training in telemetry and monitoring upon successful completion of this educational activity
PCT Boot Camp
In addition to the above clinical technician courses, the Academy for Clinical Excellence offers a two-week training program for new PCTs hired by facilities in St. David’s HealthCare. This PCT Boot Camp is designed to give new PCTs the basic knowledge and skills needed to effectively function in any St. David's HealthCare facility.
Key points of the PCT Boot Camp include:
The program will begin on Wednesday immediately following New Employee Orientation (NEO) on Monday and Facility Orientation on Tuesday. Classes are held on Wednesday-Friday of that week and Wednesday through Friday of the following week. All classes are from 0800-1630 at ACC's Highland Business Center Health Professions Institute on the 4th Floor. All course dates are listed on the Institute for Learning course registration site--click the Register Today link above for more information. Click here for a PCT Boot Camp Registration form and schedule PCT Bootcamp Registration Form