The process of ensuring that health records are kept private refers to which concept?

The concept that pertains specifically to the protection of health records and the assurance that personal health information is kept private is confidentiality. Confidentiality is crucial in healthcare environments because it involves maintaining the trust between patients and healthcare providers. Patients need to feel secure that the sensitive information they share will not be disclosed to unauthorized parties.

In healthcare settings, confidentiality is supported by laws and ethical guidelines. These regulations dictate how patient information must be handled, ensuring that health information is accessed and shared only with those who are authorized and require such information for legitimate purposes.

While accountability, integrity, and compliance are also key components in health information management, they address different aspects of handling health records. Accountability refers to the responsibility of healthcare professionals to uphold ethical standards and laws. Integrity pertains to the accuracy and consistency of data over time. Compliance involves adhering to legal and regulatory requirements relating to health information and records management. However, when specifically focusing on the aspect of keeping health records private, confidentiality is the appropriate concept.