Foundations of Healthcare Data Privacy

Every time patient information is accessed, shared, or stored, trust is either strengthened or put at risk. In today’s digital healthcare environment, protecting patient data is not just a legal requirement, it is a professional responsibility shared across roles. This course provides a clear and practical foundation in healthcare data privacy and patient data protection. You will learn core privacy principles, understand major regulations such as HIPAA and international frameworks, classify patient data by sensitivity, and identify privacy risks in real healthcare workflows. Through realistic scenarios and structured analysis frameworks, you will examine how everyday actions can create vulnerabilities and how appropriate safeguards prevent breaches. You will also explore ethical principles such as autonomy, consent, accountability, and data integrity that guide responsible data handling. Designed for learners with experience in healthcare settings and basic familiarity with patient data or digital health systems, this course equips you to confidently analyze privacy situations, recognize compliance obligations, and apply safeguards that protect protected health information and strengthen patient trust.