Final answer:
HL7 was developed in the 1990s to improve communication protocols for the transmission of clinical data between computer systems and plays a key role in enhancing healthcare quality and reducing costs, while ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of electronic health records.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the choices given, HL7 (Option c) was developed in the 1990s to solve a problem with an older health information communication protocol that specified how clinical data should be identified for transmission between computer systems. HL7, which stands for Health Level Seven International, is a set of international standards for the exchange, integration, sharing, and retrieval of electronic health information. As part of the desire to improve healthcare quality and reduce costs, the sharing and privacy of electronic health records have become a major focus, with legal considerations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requiring strict confidentiality of patient records.