Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS) Practice Exam

Which of the following is included in a Designated Record Set?

1. All patient social interactions

2. Protected health information maintained by a covered entity

3. Publicly available medical records

4. Records not related to health services

The correct answer is: Protected health information maintained by a covered entity

The correct answer is the inclusion of protected health information maintained by a covered entity in a Designated Record Set. A Designated Record Set is defined under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and refers to the group of records maintained by or for a covered entity that is used, in whole or in part, to make decisions about individuals. This encompasses any health information that can identify the individual and is created or received by a covered entity in relation to the provision of health care. This definition aligns with the concept of protected health information (PHI), which is essentially any information that can be used to identify an individual and relates to their health, treatment, or payment for healthcare services. The inclusion of PHI helps ensure that patients can access, review, and control their health information, reinforcing the importance of privacy and security in healthcare settings. In contrast, options that mention social interactions, publicly available medical records, or records that are unrelated to health services do not meet the criteria for inclusion in a Designated Record Set. Social interactions are typically considered outside of clinical documentation, while publicly available medical records do not pertain to the individual’s private health status. Furthermore, records not related to health services would fall outside the scope defined