What practices protect patient privacy in electronic health records?

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Protecting privacy in electronic health records relies on multiple, complementary safeguards that together control who can access data, what information can be shared, and how that data is protected and monitored. Putting in place strong access controls ensures only authorized health professionals can view records. The principle of minimum necessary disclosure limits what information is shared and with whom for a given purpose. Audit logs provide a trail of who accessed or changed records, supporting accountability and the ability to detect improper activity. Encryption protects data both at rest and in transit, so that even if systems are breached, the information remains unreadable. Secure storage and protected backups safeguard data integrity and confidentiality, while breach notification procedures establish a clear plan to inform patients and authorities promptly if a breach occurs. This layered approach reflects best practices for safeguarding privacy and aligns with established standards like the HIPAA Security Rule.

Other options fall short because they miss essential elements: sharing data with third parties, even with consent, still requires robust safeguards and governance; not encrypting data leaves information vulnerable to exposure; and assuming privacy is guaranteed without audit trails ignores the reality that unauthorized access can go undetected without monitoring.