Canadian Health Information Management Association Practice Exam

Which document establishes the legal basis for assessing the compliance of health information management practices?

1. privacy policy

2. code of ethics

3. legislation

4. organizational bylaws

The correct answer is: legislation

The document that establishes the legal basis for assessing the compliance of health information management practices is legislation. Legislation encompasses the various laws and regulations enacted by governmental bodies that dictate how health information must be managed, protected, and accessed. It provides a framework for ensuring that health information management is conducted in accordance with established legal standards, which in turn supports patient rights, data privacy, and security. While privacy policies and codes of ethics are important in guiding behavior and practices, they do not carry the same legal weight as legislation. Privacy policies may outline organizational practices but are created within the boundaries of applicable laws. Codes of ethics serve as guiding principles for professionals but are not legally enforceable. Organizational bylaws pertain to the governance of an organization and may guide internal decision-making rather than establishing legal compliance standards for health information management. Thus, legislation is the foundational document that sets out the legal requirements for compliance assessments in the field of health information management.