What is one aspect that the HIPAA Security Rule protects?

The HIPAA Security Rule specifically focuses on the protection of electronic protected health information (ePHI). This includes any health information that is created, received, maintained, or transmitted in an electronic format. The rule sets forth standards concerning the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of ePHI, ensuring that healthcare organizations implement appropriate administrative, physical, and technical safeguards against unauthorized access and disclosure.

The other aspects mentioned—paper documents, oral communication, and patient physical health—are crucial for overall patient privacy and security but are addressed primarily under different aspects of HIPAA. For example, the Privacy Rule covers all forms of protected health information, including paper and oral communications, but the Security Rule is specifically focused on electronic data, defining the measures required to protect it.