Course Content
Introduction To HIPPA
This module introduces you to HIPAA and explains why it was created. You'll learn key terms that will be used throughout the course, such as PHI, Covered Entities, and Business Associates. All of these are foundational to understanding your role in compliance.
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What is HIPPA?
Key HIPPA Terms
The Privacy Rule
Here, you'll explore the HIPAA Privacy Rule and how it governs the use and sharing of patient information. You’ll understand what rights patients have over their health data and what situations allow or require disclosure.
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What The Privacy Rule Covers
Patient Rights Under HIPPA
Permitted & Required Disclosures
The Security Rule
This module focuses on protecting electronic protected health information (ePHI). You'll learn how to secure data using administrative, physical, and technical safeguards — and how to assess and reduce risks in your workplace.
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Administrative, Physical, and Technical Safeguards
Risk Assessments and Mitigation
Breaches and Enforcement
In this section, you'll learn what counts as a HIPAA breach, how and when to report it, and what legal consequences can follow. Real-world examples will help you recognize and prevent violations before they happen.
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What Constitutes a Breach?
Breach Notification Requirements
Civil & Criminal Penalties
Workplace Compliance
The final module brings everything together. You’ll get practical tips for maintaining HIPAA compliance in daily operations — from patient check-ins to emails and documentation.
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Best Practices for Front Desk & Clinical Staff
HIPAA & Technology
Policies, Training & Documentation
What Did You Learn?
HIPAA Essentials: Safeguarding Patient Privacy in Healthcare

HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, passed by Congress in 1996. The law was created to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the U.S. healthcare system, but it became best known for its focus on protecting patient privacy and securing personal health information.

HIPAA has two main goals:

  1. Portability: Ensures that individuals can keep their health insurance when they change or lose jobs.

  2. Accountability: Establishes national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient’s consent or knowledge.

Why Does HIPAA Matter?

Healthcare providers, insurance companies, and even billing companies handle private medical data every day. Without HIPAA, there would be no standardized way to protect that data. HIPAA ensures that:

  • Patients have rights over their health information.

  • Providers and staff know how to handle patient data securely.

  • Organizations are held accountable if they misuse or fail to protect data.

Key Components of HIPAA:

HIPAA includes several rules, but the most important ones you’ll learn in this course are:

  • The Privacy Rule: Covers how PHI can be used and shared.

  • The Security Rule: Focuses on electronic PHI and how to keep it safe.

  • The Breach Notification Rule: Requires covered entities to notify affected individuals when a data breach occurs.

By the end of this course, you’ll understand how these rules apply in your day-to-day work and how to avoid costly mistakes.

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