SYLLABUS FOR HCM 414 –Legal Environment of Healthcare

 

Term:  Summer 2005

 

Course Number: HCM 414

Course Dates: July 14, 21, 28, August 4, 11

Course Time: Thursdays, 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Course Location: Whiting campus

 

Instructor:  Deacon John A. Bacon, JD

Office Phone: 219/659-0733

E-mail:  jabacon3@yahoo.com

Instructor Background:

 

                Education -           John Marshall Law School                                               JD

 

                                                Loyola University Chicago                                 M.A. Clinical Bioethics (Candidate)

                                                (Loyola University Medical Center/Graduate School)

 

                                                Calumet College of St. Joseph                         B.A. Religious Studies

                                                                                                                                B.A. Psychology

                                                                                                                                B.S. Biology

 

                                                St. Mary Medical Center                                    Diploma in Medical Technology

                                                (School of Medical Technology)

 

                Certifications -      Ordained Deacon in the Catholic Church

 

Experience -         Fifteen years progressive clinical and administrative experience in the healthcare field. Practiced law for fourteen years as in-house counsel for a Fortune 500 corporation and for a multi-specialty, international law firm. Taught law courses at Roosevelt University and Dominican University and conducted various law-related seminars and workshops through Roosevelt University. Presently working full-time in ministry as parish administrator and pastoral associate.

 

Course Description:        This course will cover the following issues: employment law, licensing and credentialing of staff, medical malpractice, advanced directives, corporate compliance and current issues and trends in healthcare law.

 

Prerequisites:  None

 

Learning Outcomes/ Competencies:

 

Students in this course will:

·              Identify legal issues arising in the healthcare setting

·              Analyze and supply sources of support for legal issues in various healthcare environments

·              Understand the process for medical malpractice litigation and document confidentiality

·              Apply labor relations, employment contracts and zero tolerance to healthcare situations

·              Understand legal requirements in reporting data, consent forms and licensing and credentialing staff

·              Apply corporate and departmental liability to healthcare scenarios

 

 

Textbooks:          Legal Aspects of Healthcare Administration, Pozgar, G., 8th Ed., Jones & Bartlett, 2003.

               

 

Learning Strategies: Group Discussions, lectures, research and writing, individual project, quizzes, case studies.

 

Assessment:

 

Quiz #1                                  20%

Quiz #2                                  20%

Research Paper #1            15%

Research Paper #2            30%

Class participation              15%

 

Class Policy for Assignments:  Students are given ample time to work on assignments. All assignments are to be turned in at the beginning of the class period that they are due. Late assignments will be accepted with the consent of the instructor. These will be marked down by one letter grade.

 

 

 

Grading Scale:

 

92-100   A

72-77   C

 

90-91    A-

70-71   C-

 

88-89    B+

68-69   D+

 

82-87    B

62-67   D

 

80-81    B-

60-61   D-

 

78-79    C+

59 and Below   F

 

 

 

Class Policy on Attendance: It is a serious matter when a student misses even one session due to the accelerated format of the program.  If the student misses more than one session, the student is required to withdraw from the module by contacting the Academic Advisor and their instructor.

 

Class Policy on Tardiness:  Students need to be prepared to begin class at 6:00 p.m. and are expected to remain for the duration.  Tardiness and early releases impair learning and distracts other students as well as the instructor.  More than two tardies or early releases will require the student to withdraw from the module.  Unusual circumstances may be discussed with the Program Director.  

 

Class Policy on Electronic Devices: Due to the disruptive nature of cell phones, pages, etc., it is requested that these devices be deactivated during class sessions.  If the student is “on-call”, please communicate this in advance to the instructor so an exception can be made.

 

 

 

Course Outline:

 

Session:              Topics/Assignments:

 

Week 1                  Legal Aspects text – Chapters 1 through 5

 

Week 2                  Legal Aspects text – Chapters 6 through 10

 

Week 3                  Quiz, first hour; Legal Aspects text – Chapters 11, 12, 15; Paper #1 Due

 

Week 4                  Legal Aspects text – Chapters 17 – 19

 

Week 5                  Legal Aspects text – Chapters 20 – 22; Quiz #2; Paper #2 Due

 

Description of Assignments:

 

Paper #1 (Due Week 3):    Write a 4 – 5 page paper using acceptable style and citation guidelines. Review current literature (academic, professional and popular) and identify and summarize what you believe are the top five (5) critical legal issues facing healthcare in the U.S.

 

Paper #2 (Due Week 5):    Write a 5 – 7 page paper using acceptable style and citation guidelines, on the following topic – “Tort Reform – Does Limiting Malpractice Awards Insure Lower Healthcare Costs”

 

 

Class Participation: Class Participation is vital to the learning process.  Students will be prepared to discuss the assigned material.  Class participation may affect the student’s final grade.

             

Center for Academic Excellence:

Tutoring assistance is free to all students of Calumet College of St. Joseph. The Center for Academic Excellence (CAE), has experienced and well-trained tutors in most subject areas.  This assistance is available to students who are struggling in a course or for those who are doing well and would like to improve their work.  Online tutoring is also available.  Call to make an appointment or obtain additional information, 1(219) 473-4287.

 

Statement of Plagiarism:

If an instructor or other Calumet College of St. Joseph personnel find that a student has plagiarized or been involved in another form of academic dishonesty, the instructor or other personnel may elect to bring the matter up for judicial review. The maximum penalty for any form of academic dishonesty is dismissal from the College. The procedures for judicial review are listed under the section of CCSJ handbook that addresses student grievances. (Academic Planner 2001/2002 p.27) All paper more than five pages in length will be submitted to turnitin.com.  This is the service that CCSJ uses to screen for plagiarism.

 

 

Citation Guidelines:

Calumet College of St. Joseph adheres to citation guidelines as prescribed by the particular discipline (i.e., MLA, APA, and Chicago Manual of Style or Turabian.).  All of these guidelines are available in the Calumet College of St. Joseph library or bookstore.  These texts outline how to cite references from a variety of sources, including electronic media.

 

Withdrawal from Classes Policy: Please see the Degree Completion Program’s Student Handbook for withdrawal policy.  All withdrawals are completed through the Degree Completion Academic Advisor’s office.