HIM 58 - Healthcare Law and Ethics

Transfer Status

CSU

Unit(s)

2.00

• Lecture: 34.00 Contact hours/68.00 Out of class hours/102.00 Total hours/2.00 Unit(s)
• Total: 34.00 Contact hours/68.00 Out of class hours/102.00 Total hours/2.00 Unit(s)

Course Description: This course introduces students to legal and ethical issues they will encounter while working in the field of Health Information Management (HIM). Topics include an overview of legal issues relating to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), healthcare delivery, ethics, judicial processes, and standards of care. This course also includes bioethical and moral issues related to HIM and how they affect the day-to-day operations of medical offices.

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Identify and describe the parts of the American legal system that are relevant to health information management, including the court and its related legal procedures, the judicial process for health information, and the principles of liability.
2. Describe how cultural ethics affect health, health care quality, cost, and HIM.
3. Audit the patient's health record to ensure it supports the diagnosis and verify that it legally and ethically reflects the patient's progress, clinical findings, and discharge status.
4. Examine policies and procedures to ensure organizational compliance with regulations and standards.

Topic Titles / Suggested Time Topic

Lecture

1. Collaborative Group Work
2. Discussion
3. Homework: Students are required to complete two hours of outside-of-class homework for each hour of lecture
4. Lecture
5. Problem-Solving Sessions
6. CA in Medical Coding

1. Exams/Tests
2. Quizzes
3. Projects
4. Homework
5. Written Assignments

Reading Assignments

1. Read a copy of the 2012 case National Federation of Independent Business v. Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services. Summarize the results and discuss the legal basis for the decision.
2. Read the article on Health Record Banks and create a chart outlining the details of each bank. Include level of security assurances, privacy assurances offered, and level of control over Personal (or Protected) Health Information (PHI) for each. Compare your findings with your group.

Writing Assignments

1. Review California’s requirements concerning record contents, retention, and destruction. Compare those requirements with examples provided in the text. In a one-page paper, discuss whether California addresses these requirements in the context of electronic health.
2. In a one-page paper distinguish between the patient's right to physical privacy and the right to expect the health care provider to maintain confidentiality of patient information. Provide examples if appropriate.

Out-of-Class Assignments

1. Using teacher-selected scenarios, apply the ethical decision-making steps found in the text to each of the scenarios. Be prepared to discuss your findings in the next class meeting.
2. Search the web for examples of Durable Powers of Attorney specific to California. Then complete a Durable Power of Attorney for yourself. Be prepared to discuss questions you had in the process with your group.

McTeigue, Jeanne, & Lee, Christopher. (2018). Legal and Ethical Issues for Health Professionals. Elsevier, 4th.

Health Information Technology