The level of awareness among the healthcare providers

Evidence-Based Rationale for Question Selection

The questions are specifically chosen to target the most common, yet often overlooked, sources of unintentional PHI exposure that violate the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules (HHS, 2013). This approach is supported by EBP, which mandates focusing resources on high-frequency, high-impact risks identified through incident reports and breach analysis.

1. Two-Factor Patient Identification (Question 1)

EBP Rationale: This question assesses compliance with The Privacy Rule's minimum necessary standard and the ethical principle of autonomy and non-maleficence. Failing to confirm identity is a primary root cause of errors (including treatment errors and PHI disclosure to the wrong party). Ensuring awareness here minimizes both clinical and privacy risks simultaneously.

2. Physical Security of Documents (Question 2)

EBP Rationale: This targets the most basic form of physical PHI breach. Incident reports frequently cite unattended paper records as a source of accidental disclosure. Assessing frequency directly quantifies the risk level for loss of control over PHI within the workflow, allowing for targeted physical security interventions (e.g., lockable carts).

Sample Answer

PHI Awareness and Exposure Risk Survey

Introduction

This survey aims to gauge the level of awareness regarding routine workplace practices that present potential risks for the accidental exposure of Protected Health Information (PHI). Your responses will help the organization identify specific training needs and high-risk workflows, ensuring compliance with HIPAA and promoting a culture of patient privacy. This assessment is a critical component of evidence-based risk management in healthcare.