Metropolitan Community College

Metropolitan Community College

Course Syllabus – FALL 2009

COURSE IDENTIFICATION

Title: Introduction to Medical Law and Ethics

Prefix/Section: HIMS 1150 1A

Credit Hours: 4.5 quarter hours

Begins/Ends/No-Class Days: 09/02/09 – 11/11/09; 11 class days

Meeting Day/Time: Wednesday 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Last Day to Withdraw : 10/27/09

Delivery Type: Traditional Classroom

Class Location: EVC, Room 124

HIMS Website: http://ctva.mccneb.edu/jchess

Medical Resource Website: www.onelook.com

Important Dates: http://www.lmccneb.edu/searchresults.asp?q=important+dates&x=11&y=8

CONTACT INFORMATION

Instructor Name: Mary Rezac

Office Location: Home
Home Telephone: (402) 498-8432

Office Hours: By appointment

Email Address:

Academic Program Area: Information Technology and E-Learning

Dean’s Office Telephone: (402) 457-2660

COURSE INFORMATION

Course Description:

This course gives students a foundation into the federal and state laws of the medical profession and ethical issues associated with working in a healthcare setting. HIPAA regulations will be explored in detail. Course coverage will include professional, social, and interpersonal healthcare issues. Coverage will also include identification of measures to promote confidentiality as major changes in electronic health record (HER) technology occur. Investigation of techniques to maintain the office safety, as well as the safety and confidentiality of patients and medical records, will also be included.

Course Prerequisites: None

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Compare and contrast the terms “law” and “ethics” as each relates to the medical profession.
2. Explain why knowledge of law and ethics is important to health care practitioners.
3. Distinguish among law, ethics, bioethics, etiquette and protocol.
4. Identify the major purposes of the medical practice acts and the main functions of the medical boards at the state level of administration.
5. Name and describe important legislative acts which have influenced healthcare.
6. Explain the purpose and principles associated with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance standards and how covered entities must comply with HIPAA provisions.
7. Define professional liability and medical malpractice and identify measures to prevent litigation.
8. Identify measures to promote confidentiality as major changes in technology occur.
9. Describe how the laws affect the workplace as related to employment, safety of staff and patients, universal precautions, and workers’ compensation laws.
10. Name and describe several bioethical issues which are currently arising and explain why they need to be addressed in a code of ethics.

Required/Supplemental Materials:

Text title: Law & Ethics for Medical Careers

Edition: 4th, 2006

Author: Karen Judson, Carlene Harrison, and Sharon Hicks, CMA

Publisher: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill

Online submission requirements

If a student is absent from class for any reason, homework may be submitted by email to the instructor. Metropolitan Community College uses Microsoft products as part of its standard software and encourages students to do the same. The student may save word-processed documents for file attachments in Microsoft Word .doc or .docx format. If your software does not allow either of these, then save files in Rich Text Format (rft)

Course Structure:

This course is traditional, meeting on campus once a week. During the class period the instructor will introduce the material being studied in each module. Written handouts will be shared as supplemental materials. The course is based on the material presented in the textbook, the information learned from the internet assignments, and the classroom activities. The instructor will lecture to clarify important information and guide students as they gain new information. Students are encouraged to participate actively in all classroom discussions and activities.

Healthcare workers often must function as members of a team and teamwork is essential for professional performance in a medical facility. The students are assigned to work together in small groups throughout the entire quarter. In addition to enhancing the communication skills and critical thinking abilities of each student, each individual will have opportunities to develop leadership skills and teambuilding skills.

It is essential that each student accept the responsibility for the completion of all exercises, assignments, and reading materials. Class time will be devoted to discussing content, presenting enrichment materials, and answering one another’s questions.

COURSE ASSESSMENT

Methods of Assessing Student Progress

Each week a module of information will be assigned. It will include reading assignments, an internet activity, written homework assignments, and often a case study to review. The progress of each individual is monitored in an ongoing process which includes assigning points for attendance and participation, homework, written tests, and special projects, The student will be able to earn a specific number of points for each activity.

MODULE EXAMS

There will be five computer generated tests during the quarter. These tests will cover the materials from lectures, exercises, assignments, handouts, and reading assignments.

·  There will be five (5) computer generated objective tests administered during the course

·  Each one will be graded and available for review after everyone in the class has completed the test..

·  The student will receive one point for each correct answer on the tests..

·  The test content will include material from the assigned reading, the internet activities, handouts, and classroom activities/discussions.

·  All tests will be taken in closed book form.

·  In addition to the 5 tests related specifically to the course objectives a final Medicolegal quiz will be administered.

·  All tests are taken online.

·  There are no “retakes.

·  Test dates may be changed at the instructor’s discretion.

Make-up Test Procedures:

Students are expected to be present on the day of each scheduled test. If the instructor is informed of a valid absence before a test, arrangements may be made for the student to take a make-up exam. The test will be taken online at a time the student chooses. The instructor will need to be informed of the exact time the student chooses. The test will be a timed test. Thirty seconds are allowed for each test question. One test question at a time will be shown. Students will not be able to go back to previous test questions. Students will have one week in which to make up the test.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Oral Reports: Each student will be responsible for presenting two oral reports including a PowerPoint Presentation. Students who require assistance in preparing a PowerPoint presentation may inquire at any of Metro’s Academic Resource Centers for instruction on how to complete this project.

The first report will be focused on an actual law case which has occurred and deals with a medical malpractice topic. The second report is to focus on an ethical issue related to healthcare and relates to the new bioethical issues. Specific criteria for each presentation are provided as a separate document. Each report has the maximum value of 100 points. Students will draw for dates for each presentation. If the student does not present on the date assigned a penalty of 5 points will be assigned to the grade.

HOMEWORK.

·  Written homework assignments will be made and are to be submitted at the beginning of class each week.

·  All written homework is to be computer generated.

·  There will be assignments from the textbook that must be completed on a separate written document and submitted.

·  There will be Web assignments. In addition to submitting a written response to the Web assignments, the student is to include the Web address written in APA format

·  There will be additional written reports to be submitted. The source of the information must always be documented.

·  A one-minute paper is to be submitted as an integral part of the homework assignment following the small group discussion.

·  There will be a worksheet to be completed

·  The homework assignments will be awarded a total of 80 points each week if completed in a satisfactory manner and submitted on the assigned date.

·  If the assignment is one week late five (5) points will be deducted from the points earned

·  No assignments will be accepted later than one week.

·  If it is necessary to be absent from class one week, the homework assignments may be submitted by email to the instructor prior to the scheduled class hour and full credit will be awarded.

o  Review and Case Study from textbook 25 points

o  Internet Activity 10 points

o  Additional Assignment 10 points

o  One-minute paper 5 points

Homework assignments are identified on a separate page in the syllabus. Additional assignments may be made in the classroom at the discretion of the instructor.

ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION:

Attendance and classroom participation constitute ten (10) percent of the final course grade.

The course will be covered partially by assigned portions of the text and may be presented in a sequence different from the text. Material may also be covered that is not in the text. Attendance is necessary to understand the course material. Each student is expected to recognize the importance of class attendance and promptness. Chronic tardiness and absences will result in a reduction in the final grade.

·  If the student is present for the entire class period he/she will earn 10 points for attendance and participation.

·  If the student is absent, arrives 10 minutes or more late or leaves 10 minutes or more early the student will not earn any points. A zero (0) will be assigned for that specific class session.

·  Students will receive no credit for class participation if electronic devices are used inappropriately.

·  A student who misses a class for any reason is expected to cover the material missed on his/her own. All work must be made up to the satisfaction of the instructor.

·  An incomplete grade may be given in the event of a genuine emergency, and generally only if a student has attendance of 90 percent or better and has completed 80 percent of all assignments.

ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION POLICY:

Attendance, active participation, and timely submission of assignments affect learning and grading in this course.To remain eligible for financial aid, students are responsible for meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress standards.

Students who attend no class meetings up to and including the Section Census Data published in the Class Schedule atwww.mccneb.edu/schedule/may be disenrolled from the class.There is no appeal for this disenrollment.A student who fails to meet class attendance expectations may receive a final grade mark of FX, indicating an absence-related failure, or a failing (F) grade.

STUDENT WITHDRAWAL:

·  If you cannot participate in and complete this course, you should officially withdraw by calling Central Registration at 402-457-5231 or 1-800-228.9553.Failure to officially withdraw will result in either an attendance-related failure (FX) or failing (F) grade.The last date to withdraw is noted in the CLASS IDENTIFICATION section of this syllabus.

SMALL GROUP ASSIGNMENTS:

There will be small group activities assigned each week. Health care workers often work as part of a team. Each small group will work together during the quarter. In addition to enhancing the communication skills and critical thinking abilities of each student, each individual will have opportunities to develop leadership skills and teambuilding skills.

It is critical that each student accept the responsibility for the completion of all exercises, assignments, and reading materials. Class time will be devoted to discussing content, presenting enrichment materials, and answering one another’s questions.

FINAL COURSE GRADE:

The letter grade assigned will be according to the following percentage score:

A = 90-100% / D = 60-69%
B = 80-89% / F = 0-59%
C = 70-79%

MAINTENANCE OF STUDENT RECORDS:

Students’ homework assignments will be returned one week after they have been submitted. All tests will be reviewed one week following the exam. The tests are to be returned to the instructor. They will be retained for one quarter.

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

The student will have specific assignments to read and master. These assignments are indicated in the course schedule and/or outlined by the instructor. In order to create an atmosphere where optimal learning takes place, students are expected to:

·  Have read the material prior to class meeting date.

·  Participate in all classroom activities and discussion sessions in the classroom..

·  Allow equal opportunity for all class members to participate.

·  Show respect for the opinions of others by voicing disagreements in a courteous manner.

·  Respect the diversity of cultures, opinions, and viewpoints in the classroom.

·  Listen to the instructor as well as to each other and treat all class members with respect.

·  Strive for perfect attendance; be punctual (arrive on time and return from breaks on time)

·  Come to class prepared (pen/pencil, textbook, paper, class supplies, homework assignments, etc.)

·  Complete and turn in all assignments on time

·  Take responsibility for missed content (if absent from class).

·  Follow the instructor’s guidelines regarding food and drink in the classroom.

·  Attend the entire class session.

·  Refrain from reading other materials, books, newspapers, etc., during class.

Electronic Devices Usage

1. Usage of portable electronic devices (including cellular telephones and musical devices) will not be allowed during class. Calls/pages should be answered/made before or after class.
2. Use of the Internet will not be allowed during class except at the specific direction of the instructor. Use of computers to check e-mail or search the Internet during class will result in no credit for that day's class participation.)

Disruptive Classroom Behavior:

Certain student behavior will result in the lowering of the course grade by at least one grade level, may result in an "F" grade for the course, and may result in the student's suspension or expulsion from the college. The college reserves the right to exclude at any time students whose conduct is deem undesirable or injurious to the best interests of the College or of the students. These behaviors include, but are not limited to:

·  Dishonesty, including cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information or signatures on assigned work.

·  Intentional disruption, obstruction, or interference with the process of instruction.

·  Racist, sexist, and other disrespectful comments.

Academic Honesty Statement:

Nationally there have been increased incidences of cheating and plagiarism among the college and university student population. Although any case of cheating is cause for concern, it is an especially egregious violation in the medical and healthcare training fields. Patients trust their healthcare team with the most personal medical concerns and expect healthcare team members (including health information management personnel) to be competent and skilled in their area of expertise. This cannot be achieved if cheating or plagiarism is taking place during the educational process. Cheating of any kind in this field is an ethical violation and cannot be tolerated. In the healthcare community there is no room for individuals who are willing to compromise ethics for expediency.