Which action best supports maintaining privacy of inmate health information?

Which action best supports maintaining privacy of inmate health information?

• A. Store PHI in unlocked areas.
• B. Share PHI with all staff.
• C. Discuss PHI with other inmates.
• D. Limit disclosure to authorized personnel.

Answer: (D)

Protecting privacy of inmate health information hinges on limiting access to PHI to individuals who have a legitimate need to know. This ensures sensitive medical details are kept confidential, reduces the risk of harm or discrimination, and helps maintain trust between inmates and health care providers. In practice, this means disclosing information only to authorized personnel—such as medical staff, mental health professionals, and other staff members who require the information to do their jobs—while keeping the amount of information shared to the minimum necessary for the purpose.

Accessible PHI to all staff or to inmates, or leaving PHI in unlocked areas, creates unnecessary risk. Sharing with everyone or discussing with inmates would bypass the privacy protections designed to safeguard inmate health information and could lead to harm or misuse. The authorized-personnel approach aligns with privacy standards and ensures information is used only to provide care and support.