What aspect of PHI do integrity safeguards specifically aim to protect?

Integrity safeguards focus on ensuring the accuracy and completeness of protected health information (PHI). This is vital because the effectiveness of healthcare delivery relies heavily on the information being correct and full. If patient health data is inaccurate or incomplete, it can lead to misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatments, or vital information being overlooked, which can compromise patient safety and care.

By putting integrity safeguards in place, organizations seek to prevent any unauthorized alterations or destruction of health information, thereby maintaining its reliability and trustworthiness. This is a fundamental part of compliance with regulations such as HIPAA, which aim to protect the privacy and integrity of patient information in health systems.

The other options, while important aspects of patient care and health information management, do not directly relate to the specific purpose of integrity safeguards. Financial details, emotional well-being, and physical storage conditions are important, but integrity safeguards specifically and primarily target the accuracy and completeness of health information itself.