Discussions

Patient Privacy

WK1 Disc1

Explain the importance of patient privacy. How can one protect the privacy of one’s health records?  How can one prove that one’s medical privacy was violated? What can be done if one thinks that one’s medical privacy was violated? 300-word discussion post

Wk 1 Disc 2

Analyze why patients are sometimes reluctant to complain about their health care.  What could be some reasons for the reluctance to complain?  How can medical providers encourage patients to express concerns about their health care?  How can confidence to complain be developed among patients?  300-word discussion post

Introduction

Contracts flourish in the health care industry. They could either be oral or written. The law of contracts is introduced as it relates to health care organizations and health care professionals. Contracts are important that even big corporations rely on them. Health care organizations have specified duties to care for both their stakeholders and customers. The mandatory Sarbanes-Oxley Act and legal doctrine Respondeat Superior are discussed. Organizations are sometimes held liable for the negligence of their employees. Legal issues surrounding the duties and responsibilities of an organization’s governing body are analyzed.

Article

Wood, D. (2011). Michael Jackson trial: Did Conrad Murray act as a doctor or an enabler? The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved from the ProQuest database.

Wk 2 Disc 1

Create an enforceable contract in any department of a health care organization. How can a contract be legally valid? When is a contract voidable?  What happens when one of the parties cannot perform the obligations written in the contract?

Wk 2 Disc 2

Develop a plan for compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) in a hospital setting. How can employees become knowledgeable with the major provisions of SOX? How can top executives comply with the major provisions? How can conflicts of interests in the organization be observed?  Respond to two of your classmates’ posts.

Introduction

Physicians play a critical role in the American health care system. They are not only leaders, but, they greatly influence the lives of the people that they treat. The responsibility is enormous in meeting the needs of the patients, As such, standards of conduct are provided to guide them in dealing with patients and other health care professionals. They have to work collaboratively with nursing staff members and other allied professionals in caring for their patients. Thus, legal issues concerning the allied professionals are examined and law in nursing is explored.

Articles 

Beck, M. (2010). The doctor will never see you again; Physicians can boot patients for unruly behavior, drug abuse and other reasons, but must follow rules. Wall Street Journal (Online). Retrieved from the ABI/INFORM database.

Hanson, M. (2010). RNs and LPNs want to be heard on changing roles: Is the state board changing rules, or just clarifying them? Star Tribune, B.3. Retrieved from the ProQuest database.

Website

National Quality Forum (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. . (http://www.qualityforum.org/Home.aspx)

WK3 Disc 1

Malpractice Suits  Discuss how physician malpractice suits can be decreased. How can a doctor be sued for malpractice? What current practices do doctors perform in order to avoid law suits? What are the impacts of these practices? How can one check for any malpractice suit against a doctor?

WK3 Disc 2

Legal Concerns for Medical Administration  Evaluate why prescribing, control, and administration of medications is a major area of legal concern for health care providers. What is the impact of medication errors to the patient and the health care provider? Discuss ways doctors make mistakes in prescribing medication.  What kinds of errors do nurses make regarding the administration of medications? Review the documentary  Chasing Zero (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.  and, in addition to conducting your own research, address the methods or practices that you feel would be most effective in reducing medication/prescribing errors. 

Week 4

Articles

Cohen, R. (2011). When med students post patient pictures. New York Times Magazine, 21. Retrieved from the ProQuest database.

Meeker, B. (2010). Another perspective on EHRs. Medical Economics, 87(9), 33. Retrieved from the ABI/INFORM database.

Multimedia

JNJhealth. (2009, September 23).  Patient advocates  (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.  [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY1GJPQ_0uI

· This video discusses how patients can have a better hospital experience, by keeping themselves informed and having an advocate.

Wk4 Disc 1

Caregivers as Patient Advocates  Explain why caregivers are considered patient advocates.  When and how does one become a patient advocate?  Discuss the legal implications of being a patient advocate. What resources can patient advocates access to help them perform their roles/responsibilities?  Identify a minimum of three resources.

Wk4 Disc 2

Patient Charting   Discuss the correct way of charting in a patient’s record. Analyze the impact of poor documentation in patient care? Give one or two examples. Explain possible legal concerns for poor documentation. Week Four Reading:

Required Resources Required Text

1. Read from the text, Legal Aspects of Health Care Administration:

a. Chapter 15: Medical Records

· This chapter stresses the importance of effective and efficient information management.

b. Chapter 13: Patient Consent

· This chapter presents issues surrounding consent in health care.

c. Chapter 19: Patient Rights and Responsibilities

· This chapter reviews patient’s rights and responsibilities.

d. Chapter 3: Healthcare Ethics

· This chapter discusses health care ethics and moral principles.

WK5 Disc 1

Physician-Assisted Suicide Differentiate between allowing a patient to die and physician-assisted suicide. What are the legal implications of the two concepts? What moral implications do they have? Why are doctors reluctant to abide by patient or family wishes to stop life support machines?  Respond to two of your classmates’ posts.

Wk5 Disc 2

OSHA Compliance    After viewing the OSHA Strategic Plan Slideshow (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site., examine OSHA’s goals and strategies in measuring results. How can employers comply with OSHA standards? How can employees conform to the rules, regulations, and orders of OSHA? What happens when OSHA standards are violated? Do you feel the violation penalties/consequences are fair? Why or why not? Include a minimum of one APA cited reference to support your response.

Week 6

WK6 Disc1

Models of Managed Health Care  Select three common models of managed health care organizations as discussed in Chapter 23. Identify the pros and cons for each chosen model. Give suggestions to strengthen the weaknesses of the chosen models.

WK6 Disc2

Culture of Safety   Why are organizations encouraged to develop a culture of safety? How can a culture of safety be achieved? How can a culture of safety be assessed? Research and identify an article discussing a healthcare organization e.g. hospital, nursing home, surgery center, patient care facility etc. that has implemented innovative safety operations to reduce corporate risk. Summarize 3-4 main points from your selected article. Cite the article in APA format as part of your post.