A breach of protected health information (PHI) occurs when there is what type of event?

A breach of protected health information (PHI) specifically refers to the unpermitted use or disclosure of that information. This means that sensitive health data is accessed or shared without the consent of the patient or in violation of legal protections, such as those established by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). When PHI is disclosed improperly, it compromises patient privacy and can lead to various negative consequences for the individuals whose data is involved, as well as for the healthcare provider responsible for safeguarding that information.

Other scenarios, such as the unauthorized storage of records or insufficient staff training, may pose risks to the security of PHI, but they do not represent a breach unless there is an actual instance of unauthorized access or disclosure. Delayed information access requests might hinder timely access to data but do not inherently constitute a breach. Therefore, the unpermitted use or disclosure is the core action that defines a breach of PHI.