Course Description
This course will focus on the basic terminology and processes of the U.S. legal system and then move into topics specific to the management of health information. Topics covered include privacy, security, confidentiality, contracts, meaningful use, HIPAA, HITECH, medical identity theft, E-Discovery, and professional liability issues. Students will learn the standards for releasing patient information and the design and implementation of information privacy and security policies and procedures that maintain not only the patient’s privacy but also adhere to a healthcare organization’s legal and ethical requirements. (3 credits)
This course meets certain CAHIIM competencies for HIM Majors.
Prerequisites
- ENG 101: English Composition 1
- ENG 102: English Composition 2
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- Identify laws and regulations that relate to patient information
- Identify the terminology and processes of the U.S. legal system
- Discuss information security and privacy of healthcare information.
- Describe policies, procedures, and guidelines for healthcare organizational privacy and security.
- Implement physical, administrative and technical healthcare information security and privacy controls.
- Explain HIPAA/HITECH security and privacy provisions.
- Prepare, organize and implement periodic privacy and security trainings for employees.
- Delineate roles and responsibilities of the security personnel.
- Discuss the security of mobile devices.
- Design and implement disaster recovery plans for business continuation.
- Manage access and disclosure of personal health information.
- Create solutions to privacy issues.
- Define and maintain the elements of the legal health record.
- Develop and maintain e-discovery guidelines.
- Evaluate identity management procedures.
- Apply and promote ethical standards of practice.
- Apply access, disclosure and retention policies to health information management.
- Assess compliance of privacy, security and confidentiality rules and policies.
Course Activities and Grading
Note: A "C" grade or higher must be earned to pass this course.
| Letter Grade | Percentage |
| A | 93.0-100.0 |
| A - | 90.0-92.9 |
| B+ | 87.0-89.9 |
| B | 83.0-86.9 |
| B - | 80.0-82.9 |
| C + | 77.0-79.9 |
| C | 73.0-76.9 |
| F | 72.99% and below |
| Assignments | Weight |
|---|---|
Discussion (Weeks 1-8) | 15% |
Written and Competency Assignments (Weeks 1, 2 & 4-8) | 50% |
Exams (Weeks 3 & 5) | 10% |
Final Exam (Week 8) | 25% |
Total | 100% |
Required Textbooks
Available through Charter Oak State College's online bookstore
- Brodnik, M., Rinehart-Thompson, L., and Reynolds, R. (2017). Fundamentals of Law for Health Information Management. 3rd ed. AHIMA Press, Chicago, IL. ISBN-13: 9781584265306
- Oachs, P. and A. Health Information Management Concepts, Principles and Practice. 6th ed. Chicago, IL: American Health Information Management Association, 2020. ISBN-10: 1-58426-725-9 or ISBN-13: 978-1-58426-725-6
Note: This ISBN includes a FREE AHIMA Student Membership code. This textbook is used in several HIM courses and should be saved for preparation for the RHIA exam.
Additional Resources
- AHIMA Practice Briefs as assigned
Course Schedule
| Week | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 4,13 | Topics: Introduction and The Legal Record
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2 | 1,2 | Topics: The U.S. Legal System and Civil Procedure
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3 | 1,2 | Topics: Evidence, Tort Law and Contracts
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4 | 1,2,16 | Topic: Consent, Risk Management and Compliance
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5 | 4-8,12 | Topic: The HIPAA Privacy Rule
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6 | 4-9,15 | Topic: The HIPAA Security Rule, Security Threats and Controls
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7 | 10,14,17 | Topics: Access and Disclosure of Health Information
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8 | 16,18 | Topics: Corporate Compliance
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Final Exam | |||
COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.