Certificate in Legal and Ethical Issues in Healthcare

Healthcare professionals face legal and ethical dilemmas every day in their professions. This course provides you with a better grasp on crucial issues you're likely to face involving HIPAA rules, medication errors, social media and healthcare, organ donation, and workplace violence.

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6 Weeks / 12 Course Hrs
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Course code: 0ei

Healthcare professionals today are acutely aware of the need to understand the legal and ethical environment in which they practice. In this certificate, you'll explore the legal and ethical risks related to HIPAA rules, medication errors, social media and healthcare, organ donation, and workplace violence. By the end of the program, you'll have a solid grasp of crucial topics in the healthcare industry that are important to anyone working in a medical-related field.

The outcome of this certificate is for the learner to describe the legal and ethical risks, and the legal and ethical issues related to HIPAA rules, medication errors, social media and healthcare, organ donation, and workplace violence in their healthcare practice.

(12 contact hours)

Expiration Date (Next date of course revision): 11/01/2024

No one in a position to control content has conflicts of interests or relevant financial relationships to declare for this activity.

Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing nursing education only and does not imply ALLEGRA approval or endorsement of any commercial product.

Accreditation:

American Nurses Credentialing Center

ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC was awarded Accreditation with Distinction, the highest recognition awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Accreditation Program.

ALLEGRA Learning Solutions courses are acceptable for continuing education in all states.

American Board of Managed Care Nursing

The American Board of Managed Care Nursing recognizes all of ALLEGRA Learning Solutions' ANCC accredited courses for continuing education credit for Certified Managed Care Nurses (CMCNs).

National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors

ALLEGRA Learning Solutions is an approved provider with the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) (Provider #107194).

National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators

ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. To satisfy the requirement for renewal of certification by continuing education for the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE), continuing education activities must be applicable to diabetes and approved by a provider on the NCBDE List of Recognized Providers (www.ncbde.org). NCBDE does not approve continuing education.

What you will learn

  • Identify types of law and how the health care system is regulated
  • Describe the theories and foundations of ethics that support sound decision-making during the provision of care
  • Discuss the contemporary ethical dilemmas found in healthcare today
  • Identify the HIPAA rules that ensure that personal health information is protected
  • Describe the issues relevant to medication errors
  • Examine an overview of social media tools used in healthcare today as well as provide principles for the effective and professional use of social media
  • Discuss the complex and challenging issues surrounding organ and tissue donation and recovery
  • Describe the key characteristics and factors related to the prevalence of workplace violence

How you will benefit

  • Learn the legal and ethical issues commonly found in healthcare, including issues arising from recent scientific and technological advances in the field
  • Examine the legal implications of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
  • Explore the important legal, ethical, and patient care issues arising from medication errors, organ donations, and workplace violence
  • Discover how social media as impacted the health care industry
  • Discover ways to improve your total health and well-being and positively impact your life and the life of your family
  • Learn new information that can help you prepare for a career in many areas of health (including health education, public health, nursing, medicine, social work, environmental health, or health coaching) as well as other fields (such as law, political science, advocacy, etc.)
  • Enhance your professional marketability with training specific to the topics covered
  • Build knowledge and competencies needed to advance your career and/or improve your personal health and well-being
  • Fulfill continuing education and/or national certification requirements

How the course is taught

  • Instructor-Moderated or Self-Guided online course
  • 6 Weeks or 3 Months access
  • 12 course hours

Healthcare professionals today are acutely aware of the need to understand the legal environment in which they practice. Ever-shrinking resources, shorter lengths of stay, high-acuity patients, availability of more complex information, diverse patient populations, and the use of technology mean that healthcare professionals must understand the legal risks inherent in their practice.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to describe the legal risks inherent in their healthcare practice.

Healthcare professionals face ethical dilemmas every day of their professional lives. Ethical decision-making is an important part of the care they provide to their patients and clients. A sound understanding of key ethical issues helps healthcare providers make appropriate ethical decisions during the course of their care.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to describe the theories and foundations of ethics that support sound decision-making during the provision of care.

With the advent of astounding scientific and technological advances in every area of health care, today's healthcare environment is increasingly fraught with complex patient care issues. Healthcare professionals often have varying views on legal and ethical dilemmas that make it difficult to act in ways consistent with their own support for patient autonomy. The variation in individual state approaches to laws and professional standards, as well as specific codes of ethics, makes ethical dilemmas challenging for many healthcare providers and patients and family members.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to provide an overview of contemporary ethical dilemmas found in health care today.

Personal health information is protected under federal law. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) provides for the protection and security of personal health information. Both healthcare professionals and consumers must understand the legal and ethical implications of this law and the effects of violations on the patient and the provider.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to provide an overview of HIPAA rules to ensure that personal health information is protected.

Medications promote healing, reduce suffering, and contribute to modern medical miracles. However, because thousands of new drugs have been developed recently, because the healthcare environment is increasingly complex, and because patients are older and often sicker, there is increasing risk for medication errors.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to discuss the issues relevant to medication errors. The scope of the problem and potential causes are explored, and specific guidelines for prevention are suggested.

Social media has many characteristics and has become part of the very fabric of today’s society. It can be immediate, irreverent, and incredibly powerful. The use of social media in all areas of life, especially health care, is growing exponentially. Used to effectively communicate and connect with other healthcare professionals, the community, and patients, social media also has tremendous risks when not used professionally. Guidelines to ensure its safe and proper use are essential.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to provide an overview of social media tools used in health care today, as well as provide principles for the effective and professional use of social media.

The gift of organ donation is the gift of life. However, the gap between those who need an organ or tissue donation and the number of donations available is wide and growing. Healthcare providers need to understand the issues surrounding organ and tissue donation and recovery so they can effectively support the needs of donor families and donor recipients.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to describe the complex and challenging issues surrounding organ and tissue donation and recovery, including methods of compassionately and effectively supporting the families during the process.

Workplace violence is an increasing problem in organizations today and is especially challenging in the healthcare industry. Considered a human rights issue, workplace violence affects the dignity of millions of people worldwide and is a major source of inequality, discrimination, stigmatization, and workplace conflict. The consequences to organizations and employees are staggering and include negative financial, safety, and health-related outcomes.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to be able to describe the key characteristics and factors related to the prevalence of workplace violence, including its impact on the workplace and the employee, characteristics of potential victims and perpetrators, and guidelines for the prevention of workplace violence.

Cyndie Koopsen

Cyndie Koopsen, RN, BSN, MBA, HNB-BC, RN-BC, HWNC-BC is a nurse who has cared for patients in acute care settings, community clinics, and the home. Her professional nursing career has involved nursing executive leadership and administration, accreditation consultation, staff development and education, community education and wellness, and holistic care. She has designed, developed, and presented numerous educational programs for audiences covering integrative health, promotion and wellness, and chronic disease management and prevention. She is the co-author (with Caroline Young) of two health care textbooks. She is the co-CEO and co-founder of ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC and has designed and developed over 300 online professional continuing education courses.

Caroline Young

Caroline Young, M.P.H., has an extensive public health background that includes experience in research, workshop presentations in various areas of health care, and online and onsite teaching. She has expertise in holistic community health and wellness program design, development, marketing, implementation, and evaluation. She has also designed, developed, and presented integrative health programs for culturally diverse populations, senior populations, and faith communities. She is the co-author (with Cyndie Koopsen) of two health care textbooks. She is the co-CEO and co-founder of ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC and has designed and developed over 300 online professional continuing education courses.

Instructor Interaction: The instructor looks forward to interacting with learners in the online moderated discussion area to share their expertise and answer any questions you may have on the course content.

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites to take this course.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

  • This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

  • PC: Windows 10 or later.
  • Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
  • Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader.
  • Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

  • Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Completion Requirements:

You must complete all lessons to receive your certificate. You must pass the final exam in all lessons with a score of 80% or higher AND complete the Evaluation Form in order to receive your Certificate of Completion. Finals are graded as Pass or No Pass. Receipt of your certificate indicates successful completion of the course and that you have passed all final exams with a score of 80% or greater. You may retake final exams as many times as necessary within the duration of the course at no additional charge.

Instructor-Moderated: A new session of each course begins each month. Please refer to the session start dates for scheduling.​

Each lesson will finish with a final exam that must be passed with a score of 80% or higher. You can retake each Exam as many times as needed to pass within the duration of your course access. There are no quizzes or a cumulative final exam.

Instructor-Moderated: Once a course session starts, two lessons will be released each week for the 6 week duration of your course. You will have access to all previously released lessons until the course ends. You will interact with the instructor through the online discussion area. There are no live sessions or online meetings with the instructor.

Self-Guided: You have 3 months of access to the course. After enrolling, you can learn and complete the course at your own pace, within the allotted access period. You will have the opportunity to interact with other students in the online discussion area.

You can complete each lesson at your own pace. There is no time limit to complete each lesson, other than completing all lessons within your course access period. You must complete the mandatory course evaluation within the duration of your course to access your certificate of completion.

Instructor-Moderated: Students enrolled in a six-week online class benefit from a one-time, 10-day extension for each course. No further extensions can be provided beyond these 10 days.​

Self-Guided: Because this course is self-guided, no extensions will be granted after the start of your enrollment.​

You must complete all lessons to receive your certificate. You must pass the final exam in all lessons with a score of 80% or higher AND complete the Evaluation Form in order to receive your Certificate of Completion. Finals are graded as Pass or No Pass. Receipt of your certificate indicates successful completion of the course and that you have passed all final exams with a score of 80% or greater. You may retake final exams as many times as necessary within the duration of the course at no additional charge.

Yes. This course is acceptable for continuing education contact hours in all states. However, all healthcare providers are responsible for checking the "Accreditation" list to determine if this course awards contact hours for their profession.

Yes. ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

NURSING

ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC is accredited with distinction as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

ALLEGRA Learning Solutions courses are acceptable for continuing education in all states. Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #CEP 14693, for the stated number of contact hours.

CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANTS (CNAs) & CERTIFIED HEMODIALYSIS TECHNICIANS (CHTs)
The California Department of Health, Aid, and Technician Certification Section accepts continuing education offered by CA-BRN approved providers.

CERTIFIED MANAGED CARE NURSE (CMCN)
The American Board of Managed Care Nursing recognizes all of ALLEGRA Learning Solutions' ANCC accredited courses for continuing education credit for Certified Managed Care Nurses (CMCNs).

DIABETES EDUCATORS

ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. To satisfy the requirement for renewal of certification by continuing education for the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE), continuing education activities must be applicable to diabetes and approved by a provider on the NCBDE List of Recognized Providers (www.ncbde.org). NCBDE does not approve continuing education.

NAADAC (National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors)

ALLEGRA Learning Solutions is an approved provider with the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors(NAADAC) (Provider #107194).