While faxing a document with protected health information (PHI), a healthcare worker sends it to an unintended place. What is this an example of?

Sending a fax with protected health information (PHI) to an unintended recipient is considered an accidental disclosure. This situation arises when the healthcare worker mistakenly sends the document to the wrong location, which means there was no intent to share the information with an unauthorized party. Accidental disclosures are significant because they can lead to privacy violations and potential harm to the patient, even though the action was not deliberate.

In the context of health care, maintaining the confidentiality and security of patient information is crucial. This error underscores the importance of verifying recipient details before transmitting sensitive information. Identifying these instances as accidental helps create a framework for improving communication procedures and training to minimize such occurrences in the future.