Overview

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In the final course of the Healthcare IT Support program, we will focus on the types of healthcare data that you need to be aware, complexities of security and privacy within healthcare, and issues related to compliance and reporting. As a health IT support specialist, you’ll be exposed to different types of data sources and data elements that are utilized in healthcare. It’s important for you to understand the basic language of healthcare data and for you to recognize the sensitive nature of protected health information (PHI). Maintaining data privacy and security is everyone’s responsibility, including IT support staff! We’ll go into detail about HIPAA and the risks associated with security breaches, ransomware and phishing. We’ll go into detail about some of the key laws and regulations specific to healthcare and the importance of compliance with them. You'll leave this course well versed on the Stark Law, the Joint Commission and the purpose of quality measures. We wrap up the Healthcare IT Support certificate with tips on job interviews, skills that can make you standout, and words of advice on the endless possibilities in this dynamic and growing field. Make sure you talk to others who’ve been there before about the process of being hired at a large health system. Be rest assured that you’ll receive training when you start a new role, and you might even be partnered with someone else for the first few weeks as you get onboarded. Remember, this is not the end--rather, it’s just the beginning of the next step in your journey!

Syllabus

Healthcare Data

This module introduces you to common data sources and data types in healthcare. This includes claims data, EHR data, and even patient-generated health data from wearable devices. You’ll get a sense of the difference between demographic data vs data on diagnoses and medications. You’ll watch a scenario in which a health IT support team member assists a research with de-identification of protected health information (PHI). You’ll be introduced to concepts like metadata, data use agreements, as well as the role of IRBs in clinical research.

Healthcare Data Security and Privacy

In this module we'll cover the 1996 HIPAA regulation and its implications for privacy, security & maintenance of healthcare data. We’ll go over what the definition of Protected Health Information (PHI) is and some examples of it. You’ll gain an understanding of who is responsible for protecting healthcare data and what covered entities are under HIPAA. We'll also discuss different types of security breaches in healthcare including phishing and ransomware.

Encryption and Cloud Computing

IT support staff about and the role they play in maintaining security, privacy and confidentiality of patient data. In this module, we’ll discuss approaches to protecting sensitive healthcare data,. including encryption. We’ll also go over the growing role of cloud computing in healthcare. You’ll walk away with an understanding of the distinction between the private versus public cloud.

Healthcare Laws and Compliance

IT support specialists need to be familiar with fraud & abuse laws in healthcare. These are federal and state protections intended to prevent illegal and unethical behavior that could harm patients or healthcare workers. They are also designed to prevent misuse of funds that can hurt a society as a whole. In this module, we’ll also discuss the role of the Joint Commission in promoting patient safety and quality. We’ll also cover different types of quality measures and the role of Health IT in reporting for purposes of quality measures and compliance. We’ll wrap up with tips on job interviews and advice on essential skills you’ll want to focus on in order to succeed in Health IT Support. The importance of teamwork, empathy, clear documentation, and excellent customer service skills will be reviewed.