EHR audit trails: which function do they primarily support?

• A. Increase data duplication.
• B. Track who accessed the record.
• C. Eliminate access controls.
• D. Automatically write patient notes.

Answer: (B)

Tracking who accessed the record is the main purpose of EHR audit trails. These trails log user identity, when the record was accessed, what actions were taken (such as view, modify, or export), and often where the access came from. This creates an accountability trail that supports privacy protection, security monitoring, and regulatory compliance, making it possible to detect unauthorized or inappropriate access and to investigate incidents. Audit trails do not aim to increase data duplication, they do not disable or bypass access controls, and they do not automatically generate patient notes.