Which action helps maintain PHI privacy when a document with PHI is on the desk?

• A. Leave the document on the desk for patient to read.
• B. Copy and share publicly.
• C. Immediately store the document in a secure location.
• D. Discard it in general trash.

Answer: (C)

Protecting PHI privacy relies on good physical safeguards for any document containing health information. When such a document is left on a desk, it’s accessible to coworkers, visitors, or others who pass by, which can lead to unauthorized viewing. The best action is to immediately store the document in a secure location, such as a locked file cabinet or a secured drawer, so only authorized people can access it. If the document is no longer needed, dispose of it through proper channels like shredding rather than placing it in general trash, which could be retrieved and read. Leaving PHI out, copying and sharing it publicly, or discarding it insecurely all increase the risk of a privacy breach.