HIPAA Fundamentals
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What you'll learn
Define HIPAA terminology and identify the scope of covered entities and business associates
Distinguish between permitted and prohibited uses and disclosures of PHI
Implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards required by the Security Rule
Recognize potential breaches and follow proper incident response procedures, and apply compliance best practices in everyday healthcare operations
Details to know
March 2026
3 assignments
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There are 2 modules in this course
Protecting patient information is a critical responsibility for every healthcare professional. The HIPAA Fundamentals course provides a clear and practical introduction to the privacy and security requirements established under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This foundational course helps healthcare workforce members understand how to safeguard protected health information (PHI) and meet regulatory obligations in their daily work.
You will learn how to identify PHI, understand permitted and prohibited uses and disclosures, and recognize patient rights under the HIPAA Privacy Rule. The course also explores the HIPAA Security Rule, focusing on administrative, physical, and technical safeguards required to protect sensitive health information across healthcare settings. Through real-world examples, practical scenarios, and interactive activities, youβll develop the skills needed to recognize potential breaches, respond appropriately to incidents, and apply compliance best practices in everyday healthcare operations. The course emphasizes practical application to ensure learners can confidently translate regulatory requirements into real workplace behaviors. Designed for all healthcare workforce members, including clinical staff, administrative personnel, and support roles, this course equips you with the knowledge, awareness, and skills necessary to maintain HIPAA compliance and protect patient information with confidence and professionalism.
In this module, you will learn comprehensive training on HIPAA privacy and security requirements, covering terminology, rules, safeguards, and compliance best practices for healthcare workforce members. The module begins with foundational HIPAA concepts and terminology, progresses through the Privacy Rule and patient rights, and then explores the Security Rule's technical, physical, and administrative safeguards. Through practical scenarios and interactive activities, you will learn how to identify PHI, implement proper safeguards, and respond appropriately to potential breaches.
What's included
7 videos1 reading2 assignments11 plugins
7 videosβ’Total 31 minutes
- Introduction to HIPAA β’3 minutes
- HIPAA Terminology and Acronymsβ’3 minutes
- The HIPAA Privacy Ruleβ’4 minutes
- The HITECH Act and Omnibus Ruleβ’6 minutes
- The HIPAA Security Ruleβ’5 minutes
- Breach Notification Ruleβ’5 minutes
- Responding to Incidents β’5 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 2 minutes
- Course Overviewβ’2 minutes
2 assignmentsβ’Total 16 minutes
- Practice Quiz: HIPAA Foundations and Privacy Protection β’8 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Security Implementation and Compliance Practicesβ’8 minutes
11 pluginsβ’Total 55 minutes
- Activity: HIPAA Terminologyβ’5 minutes
- Activity: Uses and Disclosuresβ’4 minutes
- Reading: Understanding and Identifying PHIβ’4 minutes
- Reading: HIPAA Violations and Penaltiesβ’5 minutes
- Activity: HIPAA Penalties and Consequencesβ’6 minutes
- Reading: State-Specific HIPAA Considerationsβ’6 minutes
- Activity: Types of Safeguardsβ’6 minutes
- Reading: Everyday Compliance Best Practicesβ’5 minutes
- Reading: HIPAA and Social Mediaβ’5 minutes
- Activity: Responding to Unauthorized Access or Disclosure of PHIβ’4 minutes
- Reading: HIPAA Compliance Roles and Responsibilitiesβ’5 minutes
This module evaluates your understanding of key concepts through a comprehensive final assessment. The module also summarizes essential takeaways and provides guidance on next steps.
What's included
1 reading1 assignment
1 readingβ’Total 2 minutes
- Course Summaryβ’2 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 54 minutes
- Final Quiz: HIPAA Fundamentalsβ’54 minutes
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University of Pennsylvania
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Frequently asked questions
This course is designed for all healthcare workforce members who handle protected health information (PHI) in any capacity. This includes clinical staff (doctors, nurses, technicians), administrative personnel, billing staff, IT teams, and support staff. Even learners with only basic exposure to healthcare operations will benefit, as the course starts with foundational HIPAA concepts and builds practical, real-world understanding.
No prior HIPAA expertise is required. The course assumes only a basic familiarity with healthcare operations. It introduces HIPAA terminology, rules, and regulatory frameworks from the ground up, making it suitable for beginners while still being valuable as a refresher for experienced professionals.
Yes. The course strongly emphasizes practical application. Through realistic scenarios and interactive activities, learners practice identifying PHI, recognizing potential violations, responding to incidents, and applying compliance best practices they can use immediately in their daily work.
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