What must an organization do if they experience a breach of PHI?

When an organization experiences a breach of Protected Health Information (PHI), the most appropriate response involves assessing the risk of harm to individuals and reporting the breach to necessary parties. This process is critical because it ensures that the organization evaluates the extent and impact of the breach on affected individuals and takes appropriate measures to mitigate harm.

The assessment includes considering factors such as who was affected, what information was involved, and how the breach occurred. Following this evaluation, the organization is required to notify affected individuals, the Department of Health and Human Services, and potentially the media, depending on the scale of the breach. This notification is important for transparency and allows affected individuals to take steps to protect themselves from identity theft or other potential consequences.

In contrast, notifying the public immediately without a proper investigation could cause unnecessary panic and might not provide individuals with the accurate information they need. Deleting the compromised data may not address the root cause of the breach and does not fulfill legal obligations to report breaches. Increasing security measures without reporting does not protect individuals’ interests or comply with regulatory requirements. Thus, assessing the risk and reporting the breach is a responsible and legally mandated course of action.