Final answer:
The primary purpose of patient records is to provide continuity of care, above other purposes such as legal documentation, billing, and marketing. Policymaking around health records must consider costs, patient quality of life, privacy risks, and legal requirements such as those outlined in HIPAA.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary purpose for creating and maintaining patient records is C) Providing continuity of care. While patient records also serve as legal documentation, are essential for billing and insurance purposes, and can be used for marketing and outreach efforts, their foremost function is to ensure that a patient receives consistent and informed medical care over time. Patient records allow healthcare professionals to access a patient's medical history, treatment plans, and other important health information, which is crucial when making medical decisions and ensuring the patient receives appropriate treatment.
When discussing the concern of health records and policy development, three questions that must be addressed involve: balancing the costs of treatments and diagnoses with patient quality of life, managing the risks to individual privacy, particularly with the sharing of digital records among health providers, and considering the legal considerations that are impacted by regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).