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Which of the following is used to indicate that a patient's medical record is stored in two locations:

a) EMR (Electronic Medical Record)
b) EHR (Electronic Health Record)
c) PHI (Protected Health Information)
d) HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

1 Answer

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Final answer:

None of the terms directly indicate that a patient's medical record is stored in two locations, as they relate to different aspects of health information management and protection laws.

Step-by-step explanation:

The terminology used in patient health information management does not directly indicate that a patient's medical record is stored in two locations. Instead, these terms represent different aspects of health information. Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) are digital versions of the paper charts in the clinician's office. They contain notes and information collected by and for the clinicians in that office, and are mostly used by providers for diagnosis and treatment. Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are a broader view of a patient's health and go beyond the standard clinical data collected in a provider’s office; they can be shared with other healthcare providers and organizations. Protected Health Information (PHI) is any information in a medical record that can be used to identify an individual, and which was created, used, or disclosed in the course of providing a healthcare service. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a law that provides data privacy and security provisions for safeguarding medical information.

Regarding the privacy of electronic health records, several questions must be considered in policy development, such as:


  • How can the privacy and confidentiality of electronic health records be ensured while allowing for the necessary sharing of information?

  • To what extent should patients have control over who sees and uses their medical information?

  • What protocols need to be in place to secure electronic records from unauthorized access or breaches?

Legally, HIPAA sets standards for protecting patient information and demands strict confidentiality from businesses that use health information. Notably, EMRs and EHRs are both protected under HIPAA, meaning that all personal health information within them is subject to this law's privacy rules.

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