How should a patient's personal health information (PHI) be managed?

The management of a patient's personal health information (PHI) is a critical aspect of healthcare practice that is governed by laws and regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States. The correct approach is to ensure that PHI is stored securely and accessed only by authorized personnel. This protects patient confidentiality and privacy, which are foundational principles of medical ethics and laws governing healthcare rights.

By storing PHI securely, healthcare providers mitigate the risk of unauthorized access or data breaches, which can have serious consequences for patients, including identity theft and loss of trust in the healthcare system. Limiting access to authorized personnel ensures that only those who need the information to provide care or fulfill administrative responsibilities can view or handle sensitive data. This maintains the integrity of patient information, ensuring that it is used appropriately and only for purposes directly related to medical treatment or administrative processes.

The other options would violate ethical and legal standards. Allowing any staff member access to PHI without restriction, permanently deleting it after treatment, or making it publicly available would compromise patient confidentiality and violate numerous laws designed to protect personal health information.