31509309Medical Law, Ethics & Professionalism
Course Information
Description
Prepares students to display professionalism and perform within ethical and legal boundaries in the health care setting. Students maintain confidentiality, examine legal aspects of ambulatory healthcare, perform quality improvement procedures, examine legal and bioethical issues, and demonstrate awareness of diversity.
Total Credits
2
Course Competencies
  1. Display professionalism
    Assessment Strategies
    written or oral response to questions and/or scenarios
    Criteria
    you identify the characteristics of professionalism in health care settings
    you illustrate professional behavior relevant to the situation
    you identify professional behaviors of a medical assistant

  2. Practice confidentiality
    Assessment Strategies
    written or oral response to questions and/or scenarios
    Criteria
    you explore issue of confidentiality as it applies to medical assistants
    you describe components of the Health Information Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA)
    you apply HIPAA rules in regard to: privacy and release of information
    you describe the impact of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act

  3. Perform within legal boundaries
    Assessment Strategies
    written or oral response to questions and/or scenarios
    through a written exam
    Criteria
    you differentiate between scope of practice and standards of care for various healthcare professionals
    you discuss licensure and certification as they apply to healthcare providers
    you identify the purpose of medical malpractice insurance
    you define the following medical legal terms: informed consent, implied consent, expressed consent, patient incompetence, emancipated minor, mature minor, subpoena duces tecum, respondeat superior, res ipsa loquitur, locum tenens, defendant-plaintiff, deposition, arbitration – mediation, and Good Samaritan laws

  4. Apply local, state and federal healthcare legislation and regulation appropriate to the ambulatory healthcare setting
    Assessment Strategies
    written or oral response to questions and/or scenarios
    Criteria
    you summarize the patient care partnership (i.e. Patient Bill of Rights)
    you compare criminal and civil law as they apply to the practicing medical assistant )
    you define: negligence, malpractice, statute of limitation, Good Samaritan Act(s), Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, living will/advanced directives, medical durable power of attorney, and Patient Self Determination Act (PSDA)
    you list and discuss legal and illegal applicant interview questions
    you identify: Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), and Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA)

  5. Perform within ethical boundaries
    Assessment Strategies
    written and/or oral response to questions and/or scenarios
    written exam
    Criteria
    you define ethics and morals
    you differentiate between personal and professional ethics
    you identify the potential effects of personal morals on professional performance
    you demonstrate appropriate response(s) to ethical issues

  6. Participate in the continuous quality improvement process
    Assessment Strategies
    written or oral response to questions and/or scenarios
    written exam
    Criteria
    you define: risk management
    you describe the process in compliance reporting: unsafe activities, errors in patient care, conflicts of interest, and incident reports
    you describe compliance with public health statutes: communicable diseases, abuse, neglect, exploitation, and wounds of violence
    you describe compliance reporting based on public health statutes
    you outline the process for reporting an illegal activity in the healthcare setting
    you explain the importance of an incident report related to an error in patient care

  7. Demonstrate awareness of diversity in providing patient care
    Assessment Strategies
    written or oral response to questions and/or scenarios
    written exam
    Criteria
    you identify types of diversity
    you explain ways to respect diversity in healthcare
    you examine the importance of equitable healthcare access
    you examine legal policies in place to provide equitable healthcare