Professional Responsibility State Practice Exam

What does the Public Records Act 2005 establish for health information?

1. A method for immediate public access

2. Guidelines for electronic health records management

3. A framework for the creation and preservation of public archives

4. A system for the destruction of outdated records

The correct answer is: A framework for the creation and preservation of public archives

The Public Records Act 2005 establishes a framework for the creation and preservation of public archives, which is essential for ensuring transparency and accountability in health information management. This framework is crucial for maintaining organized records that can be accessed by the public and preserved for future generations, thereby promoting trust in public health systems. The Act outlines the responsibilities of public bodies in managing health records, ensuring they are not only created but also maintained in a manner that preserves their integrity and accessibility. This is particularly important for health information, as it involves sensitive data that must be handled with care to protect individual privacy while still making critical information available to the public. The other options, while addressing aspects of health information management, do not capture the primary objective of the Public Records Act 2005. Immediate public access focuses on access rather than preservation, electronic health records management pertains to the technological aspects of record-keeping, and the destruction of outdated records addresses the lifecycle of records rather than their foundational creation and preservation. Thus, the option regarding a framework for the creation and preservation aligns with the intentions and provisions of the Public Records Act 2005.