American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Certification Practice Exam

The "CIA" of security in healthcare stands for confidentiality, integrity, and what other aspect?

1. Accessibility

2. Authentication

3. Accuracy

4. Availability

The correct answer is: Availability

In the context of healthcare security, the "CIA" triad highlights key principles essential for protecting health information systems. The aspect that completes this triad is availability. This principle ensures that health information and systems are accessible to authorized users when needed, which is crucial in a healthcare setting where timely access to patient data can significantly impact patient care and outcomes. Availability focuses on ensuring that data and resources are not only present but also functional when required. This includes implementing measures to prevent system downtimes and ensuring that backup systems are in place to recover data promptly in case of an incident. While confidentiality safeguards sensitive information from unauthorized access and integrity assures that data remains accurate and unaltered, availability ensures that healthcare providers can access necessary information without disruption. Thus, reinforcing the importance of availability highlights the comprehensive approach necessary for effective healthcare security management.