American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Certification Practice Exam

Under what access security mechanism can an inpatient coder access the electronic medical record?

1. Role-based

2. User-based

3. Context-based

4. Situation-based

The correct answer is: Role-based

Role-based access security is designed to grant access to electronic medical records based on the specific roles and responsibilities of each user within an organization. In the context of an inpatient coder, this means they would have access to the electronic medical record based on their job function, which requires them to review and code medical cases. By utilizing role-based access, organizations maintain control over who can view, modify, or handle sensitive information, ensuring that only the necessary personnel can interact with certain data. This minimizes the risk of unauthorized access and helps safeguard patient confidentiality. User-based access would allow permissions determined primarily by the individual user, which might not consistently align with their job responsibilities. Context-based access generally refers to access influenced by the current context in which the information is being accessed, while situation-based access focuses on specific, potentially changing factors in a given scenario. Both of these approaches lack the structural consistency and security framework provided by role-based access, making role-based security the most effective and secure option for inpatient coders accessing electronic medical records.