10-530-158Healthcare Law
Course Information
Description
Develops skills to maintain a legally defensible health record, differentiate between legal health records, and ensure compliance with regulations related to patient rights and confidentiality. Learners will interpret laws affecting health information, process requests for health data, and prepare records for legal proceedings. Additionally, learners will analyze organizational policies for regulatory compliance, evaluate risk management data, and recommend responses to breaches of professional ethics.
Total Credits
3
Course Competencies
  1. MAINTAIN a legally defensible health record
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, written or graphic assessment
    Criteria
    differentiate between the legal health record and the designated record set
    examine record security and integrity concepts

  2. EXAMINE the processes and legal documents intended to assure patient rights (i.e., Advance Directives, consents, research and IRB process, DNR, etc.)
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, written or graphic assessment
    Criteria
    identify patient’s rights according to regulations and standards
    outline procedural steps in the documentation and maintenance of a patient's advanced directive
    outline processes to execute a patient's advance directive
    identify elements in an informed consent
    determine who may consent in given situations

  3. INTERPRET laws and regulations affecting health information
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, written or graphic assessment
    Criteria
    describe the role of precedent, government and administrative agencies in law making
    trace legislation from its inception to its current state
    identify sources of law/resources for monitoring changes in legislation and accrediting agency standards
    access federal and state legislation and accrediting agency standards that apply to a given situation

  4. APPLY confidentiality, privacy, and security measures pertaining to the use, access, disclosure and exchange of protected health information
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, written or graphic assessment
    Criteria
    ensure policies address state and federal privacy and security laws
    explain concept of medical identify theft and consequences
    ensure state and federal privacy and security laws for given situations
    comply with HIPAA regulations regarding the patient’s right to access, amend and restrict disclosure of their protected health information
    apply access and disclosure policies and procedures

  5. PROCESS requests for health information
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, written or graphic assessment
    Criteria
    verify that the authorization for disclosure contains required elements
    categorize given cases as reportable/nonreportable under mandatory reporting requirements legislation
    apply state formula for calculation of copying fees/follow procedures for billing for copies
    determine the federal or state law that applies to specific cases
    review given cases to determine whether information may be released
    follow procedures for processing a request for patient related information
    maintain user access logs/systems to track access to and disclosure of identifiable patient data

  6. PREPARE health information for legal proceedings
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, written or graphic assessment
    Criteria
    determine appropriate court case criteria met for certified copies
    verify certification process is complete
    update user access logs/systems to track access to and disclosure of identifiable patient data
    describe how to notify appropriate personnel

  7. RECOMMEND response to breach of professional ethics
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, written or graphic assessment
    Criteria
    evaluate the nature of the breach in ethics
    provide a recommended response (i.e., disciplinary action, legal action etc.) to the breach in ethics

  8. ANALYZE policies and procedures to assure departmental and organizational compliance with regulations and standards
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, written or graphic assessment
    Criteria
    discuss the importance of policies and procedures as it relates to regulations and standards
    analyze policies and procedures to ensure compliance with regulations and standards

  9. EXAMINE the organization’s accreditation, licensure and credentialing processes
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, written or graphic assessment
    Criteria
    identify accrediting and licensing requirements and standards
    collect data for required monitoring activities
    report results of the review in compliance with accreditation/licensing requirements
    summarize the credentialing process
    outline the medical staff appointment/reappointment process
    examine delineation of clinical privileges
    examine peer review process

  10. EVALUATE risk management/patient safety data for patterns, trends and opportunities for improvement
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral, written or graphic assessment
    Criteria
    explain the historical development and goals of risk management
    outline the risk management structure and process
    differentiate between the approaches to risk reduction
    investigate methods for risk identification
    investigate tools and techniques to manage loss prevention and reduction
    draw conclusions based on risk data