HIM 405: Health Care Information Law, Privacy and Security

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:

  1. Identify laws and regulations that relate to patient information
  2. Identify the terminology and processes of the U.S. legal system
  3. Discuss information security and privacy of healthcare information.
  4. Describe policies, procedures, and guidelines for healthcare organizational privacy and security.
  5. Implement physical, administrative and technical healthcare information security and privacy controls.
  6. Explain HIPAA/HITECH security and privacy provisions.
  7. Prepare, organize and implement periodic privacy and security trainings for employees.
  8. Delineate roles and responsibilities of the security personnel.
  9. Discuss the security of mobile devices.
  10. Design and implement disaster recovery plans for business continuation.
  11. Manage access and disclosure of personal health information.
  12. Create solutions to privacy issues.
  13. Define and maintain the elements of the legal health record.
  14. Develop and maintain e-discovery guidelines.
  15. Evaluate identity management procedures.
  16. Apply and promote ethical standards of practice.
  17. Apply access, disclosure and retention policies to health information management.
  18. 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 GradePercentage
A93.0-100.0 
A -90.0-92.9 
B+87.0-89.9 
B83.0-86.9 
B -80.0-82.9 
C +77.0-79.9 
C73.0-76.9 
F72.99% and below



AssignmentsWeight

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 Book Bundle

  • 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

WeekSLOsReadings and ExercisesAssignments

1

4,13

Topics: Introduction and The Legal Record

  • Reading:
    • Fundamentals of Law - Chapters 1 & 9
    • Health Information Management Concepts - Chapter 2, pgs 60-64
  • Read assigned chapters
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Review the Lecture Material
  • Submit Competency Assignment - Legal Health Record Analysis

2

1,2

Topics: The U.S. Legal System and Civil Procedure

  • Reading:
    • Fundamentals of Law - Chapters 3 & 4
    • Health Information Management Concepts - Chapter 2, pgs 44-50
  • Read assigned chapters
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Review the Lecture Material
  • Submit Competency Assignment - Analysis of the Legal System

3

1,2

Topics: Evidence, Tort Law and Contracts

  • Reading:
    • Fundamentals of Law - Chapters 5, 6, 7 & 20
    • Health Information Management Concepts - Chapter 2, pgs 50-56 and 64-69
  • Read assigned chapters
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Review the Lecture Material
  • Complete Quiz 1(covers Fundamentals of Law - Chapters 3-7)
  • Submit Competency Assignment - Employment Law Cases

4

1,2,16

Topic: Consent, Risk Management and Compliance

  • Reading:
    • Fundamentals of Law - Chapters 8, 17 & 18
    • Health Information Management Concepts - Chapter 10, pgs 299-300
  • Read assigned chapters
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Review the Lecture Material
  • Submit Written Assignment - Minimizing Risk
  • Submit Competency Assignment - Fraud and Abuse

5

4-8,12

Topic: The HIPAA Privacy Rule

  • Reading:
    • Fundamentals of Law - Chapters 10 & 11
    • Health Information Management Concepts - Chapter 11, pgs 308-309
  • Read assigned chapters
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Review the Lecture Material
  • Submit Competency Assignment - Privacy Case Study
  • Complete Quiz 2 (covers Fundamentals of Law - Chapters 8, 10, 11 & 17)

6

4-9,15

Topic: The HIPAA Security Rule, Security Threats and Controls

  • Reading:
    • Fundamentals of Law - Chapters 12 & 13
    • Health Information Management Concepts - Chapter 11, pgs 309
  • Read assigned chapters
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Review the Lecture Material
  • Submit Competency Assignment - Evaluate Privacy, Confidentiality and Security Policies

7

10,14,17

Topics: Access and Disclosure of Health Information

  • Reading:
    • Fundamentals of Law - Chapters 15 & 16
    • Health Information Management Concepts - Chapter 11, pgs 313-319
    • e-Discovery PowerPoint
  • Read assigned chapters
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Review the Lecture Material
  • Submit Competency Assignment - Release of Information Policies

8

16,18

Topics: Corporate Compliance

  • Reading:
    • Fundamentals of Law - Review Chapter 18
    • Health Information Management Concepts - Chapter 9, pgs 282-288
  • Read assigned chapters
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Review the Lecture Material
  • Submit Competency Assignment - Determine HIM Compliance
  • Complete Final Exam
  • Complete Course Evaluation

Final Exam
Final Exam covers all chapters from Fundamentals of Law

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.