What term defines the protection of health information in the patient-provider relationship?

The term that defines the protection of health information in the patient-provider relationship is confidentiality. In the context of healthcare, confidentiality refers to the ethical and legal duty of healthcare providers to protect the privacy of patient information and to ensure that it is only shared with authorized individuals. This principle is fundamental to establishing trust between patients and providers, as patients must feel secure that their sensitive health information will be kept private.

Confidentiality encompasses various aspects of patient care, including how information is collected, stored, and shared. It ensures that personal health details are inaccessible to unauthorized personnel and that any disclosure of information is done only with the patient's consent, except in specific circumstances required by law. Maintaining confidentiality is not only a legal requirement under regulations such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) but also a core ethical obligation in healthcare.

In contrast, while privacy also deals with an individual’s rights regarding their personal information, it is a broader concept that may extend beyond the healthcare setting. Security refers to the safeguards and protections put in place to protect information systems from unauthorized access or alterations, while access pertains to the rights of individuals to obtain and review their own health information.