What term describes the reasonable effort a health care provider uses to limit the disclosure of patient information?

The term that describes the reasonable effort a health care provider uses to limit the disclosure of patient information is the "minimum necessary standard." This standard is part of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations and mandates that health care providers and institutions must take steps to ensure that only the least amount of patient information necessary for a specific purpose is disclosed. This helps to protect patient privacy while allowing health information to be used appropriately for providing care and handling administrative tasks.

While "privacy rule" refers to the broader regulations regarding patient privacy and "confidentiality" involves the ethical and legal assurance that private information is kept secret, the minimum necessary standard specifically addresses the practical application of limiting disclosures. It serves as a guideline that ensures patient information is handled responsibly and only shared when absolutely needed, thus maintaining the integrity of the patient's confidentiality within health care settings.