What is a key advantage of using electronic health records (EHR) in terms of security during information transfer between facilities?

The key advantage of using electronic health records (EHR) in terms of security during information transfer between facilities lies in the capability to encrypt data before sharing. Encryption is a critical feature in data security that transforms information into a secure format that can only be read or processed after decryption, making it highly effective at protecting sensitive health information from unauthorized access during transmission. This process ensures that even if the data is intercepted while being shared between facilities, it remains protected and unreadable without the appropriate decryption key.

While other options may sound relevant, they do not provide the same level of assurance regarding the security of data during transfer. For instance, having information stored in multiple locations may increase redundancy but does not inherently secure the data during transfer. Similarly, while user authentication is essential for access control, it does not directly address the security of the data itself when it is being transmitted between systems. Thus, encryption stands out as a vital mechanism that ensures data confidentiality and integrity during the exchange of information in EHR systems.