What type of data must be specially protected and can identify an individual in a healthcare context?

Personally Identifiable Health Information (PHI) is the correct answer because it encompasses any part of an individual's health information that can be used to identify them. This includes details such as names, social security numbers, medical histories, and health records, where the data is linked to a specific person. The specific protection of PHI is crucial in healthcare due to legal requirements and ethical considerations surrounding patient privacy, as outlined in regulations like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States.

Confidential Information is a broader term that doesn't exclusively refer to health-related data and encompasses various types of sensitive information, which may not necessarily include identifiers. Health Records, while important, are a component of PHI and do not completely define the individual aspect that the question emphasizes. Medical Data, similar to health records, refers more generally to information regarding health and medical services, but lacks the specific implications of personal identification that PHI carries. Thus, PHI is the most precise and legally recognized term specifically associated with the requirement for special protection in healthcare settings.