MAST 1010 Syllabus

Subject Code

MAST

Course Number

1010

Course Title

Legal and Ethical Concerns in the Medical Office

Prerequisites

Program admission

Corequisites

Terms Offered

Offered Spring and Summer

Credit Hours

(2-0-2)

Course Description

This course introduces the basic concept of medical assisting and its relationship to the other health fields. It emphasizes medical ethics, the legal aspects of medicine, and the medical assistant's role as an agent of the physician. This course provides students with knowledge of medical jurisprudence and the essentials of professional behavior. Topics include an introduction to medical assisting; an introduction to medical law; physician, patient, and medical assistant relationships; medical offices in litigation; and ethics, bioethical issues, and HIPAA.

Course Outcomes

Introduction to Medical Law for the Medical Assistant


Order


Description

1

Discuss legal scope of practice for medical assistants.

2

Perform within the scope of practice.

3

Demonstrate practice within the standard of care for a medical assistant.

4

Compare and Contrast physician and medical assistant roles in terms of standard of care.

5

Interpret the issue of confidentiality as it applies to the medical assistant.

6

Describe the implications of HIPAA for the medical assistant in various medical settings.

7

Apply HIPAA rules in regard to privacy/release of information.

8

Summarize the Patient Bill of Rights.

9

Demonstrate the incorporation of the Patient's Bill of Rights into personal practice and medical office policies and procedures.

10

Discuss licensure and certification as it applies to healthcare.

11

Discuss liability, professional, personal injury, and third party insurance.

12

Compare criminal and civil law as it applies to the practicing medical assistant.

13

Give examples of tort law as it would apply to a medical assistant.

14

Explain how the following impact the medical assistant's practice and give examples of the following:  negligence, malpractice, statute of limitations, Good Samaritan Acts, Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, living will, advanced directives, and medical durable power of attorney.

15

Apply local, state, and federal health care legislation and regulation appropriate to the medical assisting practice.

16

Identify how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to the medical assisting profession.

17

Describe the ownership and apply the legal doctrine of privileged communication to the contents of the medical record.

18

Discuss all levels of governmental legislation and regulation as they apply to medical assisting practice, including the FDA and DEA.

19

Describe the process to follow if an error is made in patient care.

20

Demonstrate response to issues of confidentiality.

Physician/Patient/Assistant Relationship


Order


Description

1

Distinguish between implied and expressed contracts and informed and uninformed consent.

2

Define the physician/patient/assistant relationship initiation and termination.

3

Describe the three elements that make a contract valid.

4

Display sensitivity to patient rights.

5

Display awareness of the consequences of not working within the legal scope of practice.

6

Display the importance of local, state, and federal legislation and regulations in the practice setting.

7

Display awareness of diversity in providing patient care.

Ethical Considerations


Order


Description

1

Differentiate between legal, ethical, and moral issues affecting healthcare.

2

Compare personal, professional and organizational ethics.

3

Discuss the role of cultural, social, and ethical diversity in ethical performance of medical assisting practice.

4

Identify where to report illegal and/or unsafe activities and behaviors that affect health, safety, and welfare of others.

5

Identify the effect personal ethics may have on professional performance.

6

Organize a plan for separation of personal and professional ethics.

7

Display ethical behaviors, including honesty and integrity in performance of medical assisting practice.

8

Anticipate the impact of personal ethics and morals may have on the individual's practice.

9

Demonstrate reporting illegal or unsafe activities and behaviors that affect health, safety and welfare of others to proper authorities.

10

Demonstrate completion of an incident report.

Bio-Ethical Issues


Order


Description

1

Characterize pertinent bio-ethical issues.

2

Compare and contrast arguments regarding abortions.

3

Discuss theories of when life begins.

4

Discuss guidelines for abortion in ambulatory care.

5

Compare and contrast types of abortions.