Why does the security of your protected health information (PHI) matter?
Why does the security of your protected health information (PHI) matter? Your health information includes confidential details about your medical history, treatments, and conditions. When your health information falls into the wrong hands, it may be used to commit different types of fraud. Unauthorized access to this information can result in a breach of privacy and confidentiality, causing significant personal and professional harm.
This includes opening credit card accounts in your name, getting medical services and drugs, and more. The consequences can lead to inaccuracies in your health records, possibly resulting in inappropriate medical treatments. Continue reading to discover the importance of safeguarding health information.
Examples of PHI Information
PHI is personal identifiable health data that HIPAA manages and protects, which includes any medical record data that can identify a patient and was created or disclosed to a covered entity while providing healthcare services, such as treatment or diagnosis. Some examples of protected health information include:
- Patient names
- Property Addresses
- Telephone numbers
- Email addresses
- Any type of dates
- Driver’s license information
- Medical record numbers
- Names of relatives
- Account numbers
- Biometric identifiers (voice or finger prints)
Sometimes, PHI can appear in various documents and communications. You can also see them on an MRI scan, billing information from your medical provider, phone records, blood examination results, or through an appointment scheduling note with your doctor’s office.
What is Not Considered PHI?
Not all PII is protected health information. Some examples of non-PHI data include:
- The number of calories a person burns
- The number of steps in a pedometer
- Heart rate readings
- Blood sugar readings
How to Ensure PHI Integrity
Personal information leaks might and will occur. For instance, devices containing PHI may get lost or stolen. Additionally, accidental disclosures or failure to remove confidential documents also represent wrongdoing.
In fact, employers are legally obligated to discuss PHI with every one of their employees. This means regularly training your team to understand and execute the rules. Also, ensuring that hard drives containing sensitive data are correctly encrypted against possible intrusion. Therefore, making privacy protocols around documents is critical.
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