Health Care Legal & Malpractice Consulting CE Courses Program

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Health Care Legal Consulting CE Courses

Information: Those aspiring to achieve certification status in Health Care Legal & Malpractice Consulting as conferred by the American Institute of Health Care Professionals, may enroll into the courses defined below. For additional information on the Health Care Legal & Malpractice Consulting Certification program: Click here.

Continuing Education Courses

Course Fees: Below are listed the five (5) required courses for this curriculum. At the end of each course description you will find the course cost listed. All textbooks and learning materials are separate and not included in the course cost.

The following CE courses have provider approvals:

The American Institute of Health Care Professionals Inc. is an Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the Florida State Board of Nursing, CE Provider # 50-11975.

The American Institute of Health Care Professionals Inc., is a licensed Continuing Education Provider in the State of California, Board of Registered Nursing, Provider # CEP 15595. For additional information please access here.

The following CE Courses also have Nursing Board Rule Provider Approvals:

The American Institute of Health Care Professionals Inc: is a Rule Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the Arkansas Board of Nursing. CE Provider # 50-11975.
The American Institute of Health Care Professionals Inc: is a Rule Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the Georgia Board of Nursing. CE Provider # 50-11975.
The American Institute of Health Care Professionals Inc: is a Rule Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the South Carolina Board of Nursing. CE Provider # 50-11975.
The American Institute of Health Care Professionals Inc: is a Rule Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Professional Registered Nurses. CE Provider # 50-11975.
The American Institute of Health Care Professionals Inc: is a Rule Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the New Mexico Board of Nursing. CE Provider # 50-11975.
The American Institute of Health Care Professionals Inc: is a Rule Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the Kentucky Board of Nursing CE Provider # 50-11975.

HL 400 – Legal Issues for Health Care Consulting & Malpractice I

This CE course focuses on the major components of the Legal Aspects of Health Care Administration, past and present. You will review interesting complex problems and discover a comprehensive approach to learning about legal and ethical issues that affect our healthcare system. We review organizations responses to dealing with the many stressors that influence an organization. Real-world healthcare current events provide the student with a sense of reality checks experienced by patients and healthcare professionals. The need to learn from the mistakes experienced by others to avoid making them again is emphasized. Students will learn how law, ethics and medicine intertwine. The knowledge gained from this course serves to improve the competency of the student to prevent them from becoming the next headline. Accountability for outcomes and quality is an additional focus as related to government structure, law and ethics. The concepts of reliance and intentional torts are reviewed in relation to tort reform and risk reduction initiatives. The criminal aspects of healthcare and the basics of contract law as it pertains to healthcare professionals are important parts or our course content as are the introduction to civil procedure and trial practice. Medical staff organization and physician liability along with a review of laws affecting nursing practices, a review of common nursing errors and legal risks of other hospital departments are key to providing the student with a detailed understanding of issues that affect them in day-to-day operations. Information management, patient consent issues and patient’s rights and responsibilities are discussed as they related to patient care. The role of healthcare ethics principles, theories and values along with beginning and end-of life issues is also part of our studies. We also look at the many influences of policy setting practices. Legal reporting requirements that affect healthcare providers and Human Resource practices are discussed. We also touch upon managed care influences, professional liability insurance and conclude with a look at the practical application of law and ethics through Case Law discussions. This course will provide any prospective or sitting manager an understanding of the many contemporary issues they need to be conversant with in order to be successful in their jobs. This course will also expose prospective medical legal consultants to a foundation of knowledge that will be useful in their provision of services.

Course Code: HL 400. Contact hours of education = 40. Course Cost: $175.00.

HL 410 – Legal Issues for Health Care Consulting & Malpractice II

Course Code: HL 410. Contact hours of education = 40. Course Cost: $175.00.

HL 420 – The Expert Witness: Role, Process & Strategic Applications

This CE course focuses on the major components of becoming an Expert Witness and refining your skills as an Expert Witness. The two texts selected for this course will provide you a solid foundation to build and improve your expertise as an effective expert witness. You will review interesting complex methods and strategies to enhance your skills while learning the best ways to partner with the attorneys you work with on cases. Learn the intricacies of how to effectively connect with jurors by employing Person-centered credibility tactics proven to gain jurors attention. Understand why you goal is to build trust with jurors and the judge. You will learn how to recognize and nullify the opposing attorneys attempts to minimize your competence as an Expert Witness who attack your credentials and experience. The importance of the appropriate use of vivid language and visuals is reviewed. In addition, the elements of pre-trial preparation and prepping methods for cross-examination are described. The study of social communications and non-verbal ques will help you recognize the effectiveness of your communication and storytelling efforts. You will learn how to blunt physical threats from the cross-examining attorney during testimony. You will gain insight to the potential motives of case stakeholders and how to navigate when new unanticipated information is introduced during a trial. The importance of studying and knowing all the details your assigned case is emphasized. The effect of your choice of words and their impact on others is put in perspective in this course. You will learn to recognize when your testimony is being brushed-off in court. The section on training methods and skills will help you improve your courtroom performance. The effective expert witness knows they have to practice their skill in order to be successful. The role of improvisations and humor are discussed. Learn methods used to help you maintain emotional control while providing clear, calm responses that enhance the testimony you are providing. You will understand that what you do not do in the courtroom is just as important as what you do. This course will expose any prospective or experienced Expert Witness to the many contemporary issues they need to be conversant with in order to be more effective and successful when testifying.

Course Code: HL 420. Contact hours of education = 50. Course Cost: $200.00.

HL 430 – Malpractice in Health Care Law

This CE course focuses on the major components of Medical Malpractice in Health Law, past and present. The goal of this course is to provide the student an in-depth understanding of the legal and ethical principles surrounding medical malpractice, as well as strategies and techniques used to prevent and address it. Your course content begins with an overview of the legal and ethical issues that are involved in medical malpractice actions. We will discuss the causes and the elements of medical malpractice, including a review of various strategies and defenses used in the harsh reality of medical malpractice suits the pits doctors against their patients. In addition, our text includes real-world case studies and examples designed to help readers understand the complexities and nuances of medical malpractice. Reading and understanding the decisions made in the many case studies in the text is imperative to your learning. Our case studies a fascinating as you read understand and sometimes question how court decisions are made. The importance of identifying the many issues that exist in the minefield of medical malpractice is paramount in our studies. Accountability for outcomes and quality is as related to the duty of care and standard of care concepts is put in perspective. A multitude of medical malpractice defense models are also explained in relation to the strategies that may be employed in given circumstances. The understanding of why the failure to diagnose is the most common allegation in liability lawsuits. An understanding of the process of proving negligence from the malpractice perspective is reviewed. The refusal rate of potential malpractice suits is explained from the attorney’s perspective. The reasons for the practice of defensive medicine are discussed as well as the understanding of the Good Samaritan laws. We also look at the many influences of policy setting practices that happen in the U.S healthcare system and legislation that affects the medical malpractice climate. This course will expose any prospective or experienced consultant or expert witness to the many contemporary issues they need to be conversant and familiar with in order to be successful in their jobs.

Course Code: HL 430. Contact hours of education = 50. Course Cost: $200.00.

HL 440 – Case Studies in Health Care Malpractice Consulting: Process & Applications

This final course is pivotal for bringing everything together in the building of a solid knowledge and theory base in health care & malpractice consulting practice. Students study actual cases and consulting and expert witness reports and learn additional skills related to work product for attorney clients. Effective report writing methodologies are examined. This course culminates in the actual full analysis of cases from the health care/malpractice consulting viewpoint and work product. Students conduct a real case analysis with full applicability of learned materials from the entire continuing education program of study. This course also provides the knowledge necessary to undertake the role of the the new consultant in the field of health care legal/malpractice consulting. A comprehensive examination at the end of this course allows for the student to do a full case analysis and develop a consulting report and work product.

Course Code: HL 440. Contact hours of continuing education = 30. Course Cost: $200.00.

Additional Information:

All courses are continuing education courses and are provided in online classrooms via our website. Upon enrollment a unique identification and password is provided for classroom access. The online classrooms provide full syllabi and course information, including the course exams and evaluations. Students must achieve a minimum score of 70% on the course examination to pass the continuing education courses.
Participants are given two (2) years from the date of enrollment into the first course, to complete the entire program of five (5) continuing education courses.
Upon completion of each course, you will be awarded the corresponding continuing education contact hours and receive the CE certificate verifying course completion and the award of education credits

Additional Links

What is Certification?

“A certification is a third-party attestation of an individual’s level of knowledge or proficiency in a certain industry or profession. They are granted by authorities in the field, such as professional societies and universities, or by private certificate-granting agencies. Most certifications are time-limited; some expire after a period of time (e.g., the lifetime of a product that required certification for use), while others can be renewed indefinitely as long as certain requirements are met. Renewal usually requires ongoing education to remain up-to-date on advancements in the field, evidenced by earning the specified number of continuing education credits (CECs), or continuing education units (CE’s), from approved professional development courses. “ 1

Certification is an official recognition from a “Professional Organization” that one has met all of the established standards as determined by that professional organization to be conferred the specific “certification” by that professional organization. Certifications are most frequently established and conferred by “professional organizations.” Certification is thus a validation that a professional has thus achieved a high standard of knowledge, learning and skills in a specific specialty area of practice. It attests to an achievement in professional practice that is beyond that achieved for licensure. It is also specialty practice specific, rather than generic in nature.

Certification is distinctly different from ‘licensing.” Licensure is conferred /granted by the Government. In most all cases, licensure is the responsibility of the State Government. Every state has its own government agencies that oversee and confer licensure to professionals, i.e. the state boards of nursing. Licensure is established by “laws” and then specific rules and regulations which conform to the tenets of the state’s laws. Licensure is granted and over-seen by state agencies. Certification, on the other hand, is NOT licensure and is not established by any “laws.” Licensing agencies generally do not “oversee” professional certifications, unless their specific laws mandate a certain professional certification, in order to practice. An example of this would be: for a registered nurse to receive and be conferred a license as a “Nurse Practitioner” most states require that the RN also have Certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. So, in order to be licensed as a nurse practitioner, the nurse must hold certification from one of those two professional organizations. The State Board of Nursing does not oversee the certification, but rather requires it for nurse practitioner license.

Why Achieve a Certification?

“Professional certification shows consumers and potential employers that you are committed to your profession and are well-trained. It gives them confidence in your abilities and knowledge. Certification makes you more valuable to employers, so you can expect to earn more than someone without certification. Certification also offers advancement opportunities.” 2 Other compelling reasons to consider a specialty practice certification include: Acquire advanced knowledge and skills in a sub-specialty health care practice: 1) Achieve national recognition for attainment of knowledge and skills by meeting established standards of professional advanced practice, 2). Enhance and expand your health care practice, 3). Increase your marketability, 4). Be viewed as a credentialed expert in your practice specialty, and 5). Become part of a professional group and network of recognized and certified health care specialists.

Report findings published on Nurse.com revealed the following regarding Nurses that held certifications: 1). Certified nurses make more money, 2). Certified nurses have respect and recognition, 3). Certified nurses have validated competence in their specialty area, 4). Certified nurses are more marketable and hirable, 5). Certified nurses perceive they have more power in their organizations, 6). Certified nurses have more professional opportunities, 7). Certified nurses have standing among their professional peers, and 8). Certified nurses are more confident. 3

While these study finds were specific to the nursing profession, we believe such benefits are applicable to all health care professionals who hold practice specialty certifications, especially related to recognition, opportunities in employment and validated competency in their practices.

Ongoing Learning

A major hallmark of quality Certification programs is the mandate that Certified Members commit to continued learning in order to maintain their certifications. This is most generally achieved by requiring a recertification process in which certified member’s document continued learning in their practice specialty by way of continuing education. Certifying bodies will establish quality standards for the requirements for its certified members to achieve contact hours of continuing education credits in order to maintain their certification status by the organization or association. 1, 2

The American Institute of Health Care Professionals upholds this high quality standard for recertification of its members by an established program of recertification via mandatory continuing education as well as clinical practice hours over a four-year time frame. Certified members may recertify their status upon meeting the standards established for recertification of their practice specialties.

The AIHCP CE Model for Certification

The Model for Certification at the American Institute of Health Care Professionals is one based on a core curriculum of focused Continuing Education (CE) Courses. We feel strongly that the conferral of a professional certification requires the attainment of current knowledge and skills in a specialty practice and those who achieve certification should all have the same educational achievements and knowledge/skill base. We insure this by modeling our Certification programs on student’s achievements in a strong curriculum of continuing education in order to achieve our professional Certifications.

Why is continuing education important as a foundation of our model? There are several reasons why continuing education is important for health care professionals. First, it helps them keep up with the latest advances in their field. Second, it helps them maintain their skills and knowledge. Third, it helps them stay current with changes in the healthcare industry. Fourth, it helps them meet their licensure requirements. Finally, it helps them improve their patient care skills. With the rapid pace of change in the medical world, it is essential for health care professionals to keep abreast of new developments in order to provide the best possible care for their patients.

Another reason that we proposed continuing education courses as the foundation of our Certification model is that the benefits of continuing education courses are numerous. For one, they can keep you abreast of the latest developments in your field, which can be beneficial both professionally and personally. Additionally, they can help you network with other professionals in your field, which can lead to new opportunities. Finally, continuing education courses can simply be enjoyable and enriching, providing student candidates with a chance to learn new things and explore different topics.

Our model consists of several types of continuing education courses. Many of our CE courses are self-directed and self-paced with faculty-mentoring as required by the student candidates. Students utilize text books for the course and very often supplemental learning materials such as course handouts, articles and videos. Other types of courses we have include online video on demand lectures courses that provide for printable copies of the slides used in the videos.

All of our CE courses have examinations that must be successfully completed in order for students to receive credit for the courses and also receive a CE Course Certificate. Most all of the examinations on taken right online with a computerized system and are objective-type questions such as multiple choice and true/false questions. Students take the examination online and once completed receive immediate feedback of their examination score and the questions they may have missed including what the correct responses are to missed questions. Students must complete a comprehensive online course evaluation in order to receive their CE Course Certificate. Students may communicate with their course instructors regarding any questions they have about the examination both pre and post-test taking.

All of our CE Courses are approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing. We are an accredited provider of continuing education for the California Board of Registered Nursing. For many of our CE Courses we also have Board of Nursing Approval by the Florida Board of Nursing and the DC Board of Nursing. As well we are a Rule Approved Provider for CE by the following Boards of Nursing: Arkansas, Georgia, South Carolina, West Virginia, Kentucky and New Mexico. The AIHCP is also an Approved Provider for Continuing Education by the South Carolina Professional Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapists and Psycho-Educational Specialists licensing board.

Upon successful completion of our CE Courses, our student candidates receive a full-sized Course CE Certificate with the full name of the course, date of completion, number of earned contact hours as well as all Board and Organizational approvals for the course. As our student candidates are generally health care professionals they have the added benefit of being able to use their earned CE Course contact hours for their State re-licensing CE requirements and many can use them for their CE requirements for recertification in other professionals organizations.

Our foundational model of CE for Certification is also based on the importance to stay current in the health care field as changes in technology and treatments occur rapidly. As a health care professional, you need to be able to provide the best possible care for your patients. Staying current also allows you to keep up with the latest guidelines and standards of care. Additionally, new research is constantly emerging that can impact patient care.

In conclusion, our foundational model of continuing education courses for certification for health care professionals is important in order to keep up with the latest advancements in health care. They also help to refresh and update the skills of those who have been working in the field for many years. All of our courses can be taken online and are self-paced for the student candidate’s easy of self-paced learning and many employers offer financial assistance to employees who enter our programs.

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_certification October 2018. Page 1.
https://www.collegetransfer.net/AskCT/WhatisProfessionalCertification/ October 2018
https://www.nurse.com/blog/2018/03/14/enjoy-the-perks-of-nurse-certification/ October 2018

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