Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Practice Exam

What is the primary purpose of Health Information Exchange (HIE)?

1. Transmitting health records worldwide.

2. Facilitating secure transport of health information.

3. Creating new health records.

4. Storing patient information indefinitely.

The correct answer is: Facilitating secure transport of health information.

The primary purpose of Health Information Exchange (HIE) is to facilitate the secure transport of health information among healthcare providers, organizations, and systems. HIE allows for the sharing of patient data in a way that ensures privacy and security, which is crucial for maintaining compliance with regulations such as HIPAA. By enabling different entities to access and share relevant health information, HIE supports improved care coordination, reduces duplication of services, and enhances overall patient safety. In contrast, simply transmitting health records worldwide does not capture the secure and specific nature of HIE, as this involves a broader scope than intended. The creation of new health records and indefinite storage of patient information do not represent the core function of HIE, which is focused on the exchange and access to existing data rather than the generation of new data or long-term storage solutions. Therefore, the emphasis on secure transport reflects the foundational goal of HIE in promoting efficient and safe health information sharing among stakeholders.