Course Description
This course will cover the proper ethical behaviors in the field of healthcare and common ethical frameworks. Students will explore the basic terminology and processes of the U.S. legal system and then move into topics specific to the management of health information. A major focus of the course will be privacy and security concepts including 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)
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:
- Apply ethical frameworks to support decision-making and to guide others to resolve ethical issues.
- Apply and promote ethical standards of practice.
- Analyze the impact of legislation regulations, licensure, and accreditation on health information management policy.
- Identify the terminology and processes of the U.S. legal system.
- Use physical, technical, and administrative controls to ensure safeguards are in place to protect assets.
- Engage in activities that support compliance with privacy, security and confidentiality legislation and regulations.
- Identify potential cyber risk and describe processes to mitigate and manage risks.
- Monitor, analyze and report on healthcare fraud and abuse.
- Manage access and disclosure of personal health information.
- Apply access, disclosure and retention policies to health information management.
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 | Points | Weight |
|---|---|---|
Discussion (Weeks 1-8) | 200 | 20% |
Weekly Quizzes (Weeks 1-8) | 200 | 20% |
Written and Competency Assignments (Week 1-7) | 450 | 45% |
Final Project (Week 8) | 150 | 15% |
Total | 1,000 | 100% |
Required Textbooks
Available through Charter Oak State College's Book Bundle
- Brodnik, M., Rinehart-Thompson, L., and Reynolds, R. (2024). Fundamentals of Law for Health Information Management. 4th ed. AHIMA Press, Chicago, IL.
- Oachs, P. and A. Health Information Management Concepts, Principles and Practice. 6th ed. Chicago, IL: American Health Information Management Association, 2020.
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 | 1,10 | Topics: Introduction to Computers in HIM
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2 | 2,4,5,6,14,15 | Topics: Information Integrity and Data Quality and Security
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3 | 11,12 | Topics: Databases and Computers in HIM
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4 | 2,7,13 | Topics: System Selection and Implementation
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5 | 1,3,16 | Topic: Electronic Health Records
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6 | 1,2,3 | Topics: Administrative Information Systems; Clinical Information Systems
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7 | 8,16 | Topic: Consumer Informatics
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8 | 9,16 | Topics: Role of HIM Professionals in Information Systems;The Future of Computers in Healthcare |
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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.