Introduction In recent years, health records and use of other information and communication technologies has been heightened in health care institutions and by healthcare professionals, including nurses. As a result, the need for maintaining patients’ privacy, while storing and communicating patient information becomes a necessity. Various safeguards can be put in place to ensure confidentiality of information. The following discussion is aimed at identifying why there is a need for maintaining privacy of patients’ information by identifying the various legislative measures governing health information in Alberta. It will also focus on a reflection of practices experienced in ensuring patient information confidentiality and safety, and recommendations for improvement in guaranteeing there is no breach of confidentiality of patients’ information. Why Privacy of Health Information Is Important Privacy of medical information is vitally important. If it is maintained, many lives are likely to be saved because; people may have a tendency to avoid life- saving and life- enhancing treatments (McGraw, 2009). In addition, whether it is right or wrong, many illnesses come along with a form of stigma (McGraw, 2009). Consequently, many people may be reluctant to seek medical attention if they are not guaranteed of their privacy. To some extent, some insured patients may fail to seek medical attention until their condition worsens while at the same time they may fail to reveal their health condition to care givers and medical staffs if they are not certain of privacy of their information (Born, 2013). Assignment 2: Appropriate Use of Health Information (Essay Paper) Finally, some patients in search of medical attention may withhold crucial information, which could otherwise aid in their treatment, for fear of lack of privacy. As a result, they may not receive full and/or appropriate form of treatment (Born, 2013).