Final answer:
To ensure the confidentiality of patient records, they must be kept in a secured area as mandated by the HIPAA law from 1996, which requires strict confidentiality by healthcare providers and insurers.
Step-by-step explanation:
To protect the confidentiality of patient records, always keep them in a secured area. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), passed into law in 1996, sets the standards for the protection of patient information. It mandates that entities like insurance companies and healthcare providers maintain strict confidentiality of patient records. Therefore, the patient records should be stored in a way that prevents unauthorized access and ensures that the patient's privacy rights are not violated.
To protect the confidentiality of patient records, always keep them in a secure area. This area should be access-controlled, meaning only authorized personnel have permission to enter. Additionally, patient records should be stored in locked cabinets or encrypted computer systems to prevent unauthorized access.