Definition:
Confidentiality is defined as the state of keeping or being kept secret or private.
Patient confidentiality is defined as the right of an individual to have personal, identifiable medical information kept private. Such information should be available only to the physician of record and other health care and insurance personnel as necessary.
According to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a release of information must be acquired before any protected health information can be shared.