Health Care Ethics

Bachelors of Science in Life and Health Sciences

HUM 320

BREYER STATE UNIVERSITY

Instructor: Arlena Pugliese, RN, MHSA, PhD

SYLLABUS

COURSE OVERVIEW: Welcome to Health Care Ethics, a Bachelor Level course. This course is specifically geared to those entering a career in healthcare, those currently in the healthcare arena, and those who desire to have knowledge about health care ethics. This course will provide a broad range introduction to health care ethics.

It is imperative that health care professionals conduct themselves and their medical practice in an ethical manner. Within the ever changing health care environment professionals find themselves almost daily facing some type of ethical dilemma. In order to address medical ethical dilemmas the health care provider must evaluate their personal value system and how this affects the care provided to individual patients. The goal of this course is to become more cognizant of possible ethical dilemmas and possible methods of addressing such an issue. Please understand that each ethical issue is unique to those person = s involved not only because of the given circumstances but because of the individual = s value system. Hence it would be impossible to address every type of ethical issue and provide a course of action that a healthcare provider would face during the course of their practice. This course will serve as an educational tool to assist with starting points for such resolution activities and to enhance the knowledge base of the healthcare provider so that early identification and interventions can occur which will ultimately enhance patient care.

TIME FRAME: This is a five credit hour class. The course is allotted 10 weeks of time. You must complete the requirements for Health Care Ethics within this 10 week period. The day that you register for the course begins week one, or the day you notify me that you have received the required text and that you are ready to begin your studies. Please track the ten week time period closely as extensions are rarely granted without solid justification. Upon the successful completion of this course you will be awarded five credit hours.

TEXTBOOKS: The required book for this course is:

Textbook of Healthcare Ethics, 2nd ed. Dr. Erich H. Loewy and Dr. Roberta Springer Loewy. Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2004: ISBN # 1-4020-1460-0.

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EXAMINATIONS: There is a mid-term exam (Chapters 1-6) that must be take by the end of week five of the course. There is also a final exam (Chapters 7-13) that must be taken by the end of week 10 of the course. The examinations will be programmed and located in the classroom. The exams are comprised of objective type questions. It is open book. In order to access an exam, you must send me an email and request access. Once I have received notice of your desire to take an exam, I will then program your access. Once this is accomplished, I will email you informing you that you are now authorized to begin the exam. To access the exam follow these instructions:

1). Insure you have your USER ID and PASS WORD available.
2). Go into the classroom.
3). Click on testing.
4). Click on the exam for Health Care Ethics, HUM 320.

The exam will them appear on your computer screen. Once you have successfully accessed an exam, you have 24 hours to submit your answers. The program provides to me an exact date and time that you officially accessed the exam. Also, the program will provide to me and exact date and time as to when you submitted your answers. Remember you have 24 hours. The program for the exam is timing you. When you are completed, go back into the classroom and click in your responses and then click submit. In a short period of time, you will receive the exam in your email box with your computed score. At that time, you will also be informed of what questions, if any, that you missed and the correct answer. I will receive a copy of your exam and your score.

GRADING:

90-100%    = A
80-89%      = B
70-79%      = C
Below 70% = Fail

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course you will be able to:

1). Aware of the realm of healthcare ethics in the practice of medicine.
2). Obtain an understanding of the historical background of healthcare ethics.
3). Knowledgeable regarding macro allocation of healthcare resources.
4). Knowledgeable regarding ethical theories and how they might impact medical practice.
5). Provide an understanding of patient and healthcare provider autonomy and responsibility in a pluralist world.
6). Obtain an understanding of ethical relationships between healthcare providers and patients.
7). Provide an understanding of how ethics may impact overall patient care.
8). Obtain an understanding of healthcare ethics role with organ donation and genetics.
9). Obtain an understanding of healthcare ethics that may occur during the beginning of life.
10). Obtain an understanding of healthcare ethics that may occur while caring for the terminally ill.
11). Identify and have a working knowledge of a healthcare ethical issue.
12). Assist the healthcare provider to begin evaluating personal value systems and how these systems affect care provision.

COMMUNICATION: As you proceed with this course should you have any questions related to the assignment or the course please contact me. There are also chat rooms in which we can establish a one on one meeting if required. I am available via telephone if necessary. Should you change your email address please notify me. I am interested in your success with this course and am available to assist you to obtain your completion goal.

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR: I, Arlena Pugliese, currently teach the undergraduate course, Health Care Ethics, for Breyer State University . I have served in the healthcare industry in various settings including acute care hospital, nursing home, home health, and insurance. I hold a nursing degree, a Bachelor of Education, a Master and Ph.D. in health service administration. I enjoy painting, needlework and quilting. I am the proud mother of a seven year old malamute/lab mix who is named Albert.

ASSIGNMENTS: Please go to the assignment section of the classroom for weekly schedule and assignments.

INFORMATION: If you have any questions regarding this program, you may address them to adm@breyerstate.com. An administrative faculty member will respond to all questions.