Which compliance framework helps ensure patient privacy and security in healthcare organizations?

• A. FDA Food Safety Act
• B. OSHA Hazard Communication Standard
• C. Sarbanes-Oxley Act
• D. HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules; and the HITECH Act

Answer: (D)

Protecting patient health information through formal privacy and security standards is what healthcare organizations rely on to keep PHI confidential and safe. The HIPAA Privacy Rule defines how patient information can be used and disclosed, setting boundaries for when and with whom PHI can be shared. The HIPAA Security Rule adds concrete safeguards for electronic PHI, covering administrative, physical, and technical controls such as access management, encryption, audit trails, risk assessments, and workforce training. The HITECH Act strengthens these protections by promoting the adoption of electronic health records, expanding breach notification requirements, and increasing penalties for noncompliance, thereby enhancing overall patient data security and privacy.

Other regulations don’t focus on patient privacy and security in healthcare: the FDA Food Safety Act targets food safety, OSHA Hazard Communication Standard deals with workplace chemical hazards, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act governs financial reporting and corporate governance.