What constitutes insecure PHI in paper format?

Insecure Protected Health Information (PHI) in paper format primarily refers to any information that has not been properly destroyed, which makes it susceptible to unauthorized access. This can include documents that might still contain sensitive patient information that, if found by an unauthorized individual, could lead to breaches of privacy and confidentiality.

When materials such as patient records are not shredded or otherwise rendered unreadable, they remain vulnerable to being accessed by anyone who comes across them. The principles of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) emphasize the importance of securely disposing of such documents to protect patient privacy.

Although damaged documents, improperly filed papers, or documents relating to deleted records can pose risks, they do not inherently constitute insecure PHI in the same manner as unshredded or poorly destroyed information. The core issue is whether the PHI can still be accessed and read, which is precisely why the failure to properly destroy these materials identifies them as insecure.