What practice supports patient privacy by requiring secure authentication?

• A. Bar coding
• B. Graphic sheet
• C. Central processing unit
• D. Use of passwords

Answer: (D)

Protecting patient privacy hinges on confirming who is accessing the system before allowing entry. Requiring secure authentication means proving you are who you claim to be so sensitive patient data stays accessible only to authorized staff. Using passwords is the standard method of authentication in health information systems. A password is something you know, and when combined with good practices—strong, unique passwords and regular updates—it helps prevent unauthorized access and data breaches. Other items aren’t about verifying a person’s identity: bar coding tracks items or patients but doesn’t confirm who is logging in; a graphic sheet is just a document or display; a central processing unit is hardware that runs programs, not a security check. So, among these options, passwords best support privacy by controlling access.