Which of the following is not considered a safeguard under the HIPAA Security Rule?

Under the HIPAA Security Rule, safeguards are classified into three main categories: administrative safeguards, technical safeguards, and physical safeguards. Administrative safeguards include policies and procedures designed to manage the selection, development, implementation, and maintenance of security measures. Technical safeguards incorporate technology and related policies and procedures that protect electronic health information and control access to it. Physical safeguards involve the physical protection of electronic systems and facilities where ePHI (electronic Protected Health Information) is housed.

The term "patient safeguards" is not recognized within the HIPAA Security Rule framework. While protecting patient information is crucial, it does not categorize as a distinct set of safeguards within the context of the HIPAA Security Rule. Thus, recognizing the defined categories of safeguards outlined in the Rule helps clarify why "patient safeguards" is not considered one of them.