HIMT 1302 Legal Aspects of Health Information

3 Credit Hour(s)

This course provides an understanding of the legal principles that govern health information and the health record as a legal document. Emphasis is placed on key concepts including: the court system, medical staff, nursing staff, governing board, and their functions and responsibilities. Confidentiality, release of information, informed consent, patient rights, record retention, and an in-depth review of HIPAA will be studied and practiced. Course focus includes current trends in health legislation, such as healthcare fraud, federal and state required reporting.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

Implement appropriate privacy strategies when handling personal health data.
Identify common security threats and terminology related to health information systems.
Use appropriate legal procedures when managing and releasing patient health records.
Identify external forces that influence healthcare compliance, such as HIPAA, CMS, OSHA, and accreditation bodies.
Identify key compliance requirements (e.g., HIPAA, retention schedules) relevant to each stage of the health information life cycle.
Illustrate the effects of specific healthcare policies in real-world clinical or administrative settings.

This course is not designed for transfer to four-year universities. Students should check course recommendations with the college or university to which they intend to transfer for a baccalaureate degree. The receiving institution always makes the final decision about transferability of credits.