What is a common risk associated with unencrypted emails in healthcare?

In the context of healthcare, unencrypted emails pose a significant threat primarily because they can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive patient information. When emails are not encrypted, the data they contain is transmitted in a readable format. This means that if the email is intercepted—whether through hacking, employee negligence, or unauthorized access—it can be read by anyone who gains access to it.

Patient information is subject to strict regulations, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which mandates the protection of health information to ensure privacy and security. Unencrypted emails do not comply with these regulations and can result in breaches of confidentiality, putting patient data at risk. This also can have legal implications for healthcare organizations, leading to potential fines and a loss of trust from patients.

The other options, while they may relate to email communication in different ways, do not capture the primary risk associated with unencrypted emails as effectively as unauthorized access to patient information does. Delayed communication pertains to how quickly information can be relayed, increased administrative costs relate to the overall expenses associated with managing healthcare processes, and limited data storage focuses on the capacity for holding information rather than the security aspect.