What should a healthcare facility do to minimize risks associated with PHI?

To minimize risks associated with Protected Health Information (PHI), it is crucial to implement robust security measures that safeguard sensitive data. Encrypting data helps protect it from unauthorized access during storage and transmission, making it unreadable without the proper decryption keys. This is a fundamental practice in information security that prevents data breaches and reinforces patient confidentiality.

Limiting access to PHI is equally important, as it ensures that only authorized personnel can view or handle sensitive information. This control minimizes the risk of accidental or intentional disclosures of patient data, thereby maintaining compliance with regulations such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) that mandate the protection of PHI.

In contrast, making all patient data publicly accessible poses significant risks, as it would lead to widespread exposure of sensitive information. Relying solely on patient consent does not address the proactive security measures necessary to protect data; often, patients may not fully understand the implications of their consent. Lastly, utilizing paper records primarily does not align with modern data protection practices, as paper can be lost, damaged, or accessed by unauthorized individuals without the benefit of digital security measures like encryption.