What is the term for health information that does not identify an individual?

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The correct term for health information that does not identify an individual is de-identified information. This refers to health information that has been stripped of identifiers that could be used to trace back to an individual. The process of de-identification involves removing or masking personal identifiers, such as names, social security numbers, and other unique identifiers, allowing the data to be used without compromising an individual's privacy.

This concept is essential in compliance with regulations like HIPAA, which mandates the protection of personal health information while allowing for the use of data for research or analysis provided it is properly de-identified. The distinction is crucial, especially in compliance contexts, where the protection of individual's information is paramount.

In contrast, terms like confidential information or protected health information include identifiable information, which can be traced back to an individual. Clinical data can refer to a wide range of information related to patient care, but it may not specifically denote that it is de-identified. Thus, de-identified information is the most precise term for the type of health data that does not identify an individual.

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