10/14/2024 8:26:11 PM	MA 161 Course Outline as of Fall 2013	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  MA 161	Title:  LAW & ETHICS MED ASST
Full Title:  Law and Ethics for Medical Assistants
Last Reviewed:1/27/2020

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	1.00	Lecture Scheduled	1.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	17.50
Minimum	1.00	Lab Scheduled	0		6 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	1.00			Contact Total	17.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  35.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 52.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  MA 61

Catalog Description:

Survey of medical law and ethics related to work in medical settings. Emphasis on implications and decision making for patients, physicians, medical assistants, and other health professionals.  Special attention is given to patient privacy laws.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Course Completion of HLC 160 and CS 60.11A and ANAT 58; OR Course Completion of HLC 160 and CS 60.11A and ANAT 140 and HLC 140

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Survey of medical law and ethics related to work in medical settings. Emphasis on implications and decision making for patients, physicians, medical assistants, and other health professionals.  Special attention is given to patient privacy laws.

(Grade Only)
Prerequisites:Course Completion of HLC 160 and CS 60.11A and ANAT 58; OR Course Completion of HLC 160 and CS 60.11A and ANAT 140 and HLC 140
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

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

1.  Discuss the implications of law and ethics to the medical professional in a variety of health care settings.

2.  Act responsibly as the physician's agent with respect to legal requirements of the medical assistant in the medical office.

3.  Define terminology related to medical law and ethics.

4.  Discuss and describe the Medical Practice Act and its implications for physicians and medical assistants in the medical offices.

5.  State the regulations and accompanying medical assisting office practices defined by federal, state, and local regulations regarding the handling of:

     a. Narcotics (Controlled Substances Act)

     b. Treatment of minors

     c. Reporting of statistical and communicable disease information

     d. Collection practices

     e. Confidentiality

     f.  Family abuse

     g. Consent

6.   Describe the medical assistant's role in obtaining informed consent and list the components of informed consent.

7.   Describe the components of a legal contract and distinguish between expressed and implied contracts.

8.   Identify situations violating confidentiality and propose solutions for maintaining confidentiality as shown by HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) confidentiality laws.

9.   Use problem-solving techniques to recognize and solve ethical situations related to the medical assistant's role.

10. List the tasks that the clinical medical assistant can and cannot perform under California law.

11. Describe the required training for clinical medical assistants.

12. State patient's rights as defined by the American Hospital Association.

13. Identify common medical office practices that have ethical implications.

14. Show professionalism and exhibit mutual respect for other healthcare professionals and patients.

15. Exhibit safe practices in the medical office/clinical setting.

Topics and Scope

1.  Aspects of Medical Law

     a. Legal terms

     b. Sources of law

     c. Law and the physician

     d. Legal relationship to patient

          1) Standard of care

          2) Liability

          3) Contract and consent

          4) Confidentiality

     e. Legal regulations in health care

          1) Public records

          2). General liability

     f. Medical records

          1) Record keeping and documentation

          2) Maintenance

     g. Employee guidelines and legal responsibilities

     h. Malpractice prevention

2.  Aspects of Medical Ethics

     a. Ethical terms

     b. Historical codes

     c. Ethics applied to medical office practice

     d. Examining values and dilemmas

     e. Ethical behaviors and problems

     f.  Confidentiality

     g. The Patient's Bill of Rights

     h. Codes of ethics for medical professionals

3.  Safety in the Office

     a. Principles of safety

     b. Safe practice

     c. Environmental safety

     d. Legal implications

Assignments:

1. Read an average of 30 to 50 pages per week

2. Complete chapter study questions and exercises (20-25 per chapter)

3. Complete 1-5 case study problems

4. Conduct Internet research on 5-10 current medical issues pertaining to office practice in California

5. Construct lists of California regulations and laws for allowable and prohibitive duties for clinical medical assistants.

6. List California training sites and certification requirements for medical assistants.

6. One, 2 - 3 page paper on an ethical dilemma in a medical office/clinical setting.

7. Quizzes (3-5).

8. Final exam.

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 30 - 40%
Conduct Internet research, written homework, chapter study questions; and exercises: Paper Ethical Dilemma; lists of regulations, laws, training sites and certifications.
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 15 - 25%
Case studies
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 30 - 55%
Quizzes and final exam.
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 5%
Attendance and participation

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Medical Law and Ethics, by Bonnie F. Fremgren. 2012, Prentice Hall

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