Hipaa Questions and Answers | Latest
Version | 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
What should a nurse do if they find printed lab results left at a public nurses’ station?
✔✔ Secure the documents immediately and report the incident according to policy
Can a hospital share patient information with a billing company?
✔✔ Yes, if the billing company is a HIPAA-compliant business associate
Is it acceptable to confirm a patient’s room number to someone over the phone?
✔✔ Only if the patient has consented to share that information
What should a healthcare worker do if asked about a patient by name while in a cafeteria?
✔✔ Politely decline and explain that patient information is confidential
Why should screen protectors be used on computers in patient care areas?
✔✔ To prevent unauthorized viewing of protected health information
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, When is it acceptable to access a patient’s medical record out of curiosity?
✔✔ Never — access must be for treatment, payment, or operations only
Can you email patient information to another healthcare provider?
✔✔ Only through a secure, encrypted email system
What is the correct way to refer to a patient in public areas?
✔✔ Avoid using names and refer generally or not at all
What is the proper action if a visitor overhears a patient handoff report?
✔✔ Apologize, relocate to a private area, and avoid repeating the error
Can a nursing student discuss patient cases with classmates?
✔✔ Only in a secure educational setting with all identifiers removed
Is it okay to take a photo of a patient’s wound for a class project if the face isn’t shown?
✔✔ No — photographs of patients are PHI and require written consent
2
Version | 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
What should a nurse do if they find printed lab results left at a public nurses’ station?
✔✔ Secure the documents immediately and report the incident according to policy
Can a hospital share patient information with a billing company?
✔✔ Yes, if the billing company is a HIPAA-compliant business associate
Is it acceptable to confirm a patient’s room number to someone over the phone?
✔✔ Only if the patient has consented to share that information
What should a healthcare worker do if asked about a patient by name while in a cafeteria?
✔✔ Politely decline and explain that patient information is confidential
Why should screen protectors be used on computers in patient care areas?
✔✔ To prevent unauthorized viewing of protected health information
1
, When is it acceptable to access a patient’s medical record out of curiosity?
✔✔ Never — access must be for treatment, payment, or operations only
Can you email patient information to another healthcare provider?
✔✔ Only through a secure, encrypted email system
What is the correct way to refer to a patient in public areas?
✔✔ Avoid using names and refer generally or not at all
What is the proper action if a visitor overhears a patient handoff report?
✔✔ Apologize, relocate to a private area, and avoid repeating the error
Can a nursing student discuss patient cases with classmates?
✔✔ Only in a secure educational setting with all identifiers removed
Is it okay to take a photo of a patient’s wound for a class project if the face isn’t shown?
✔✔ No — photographs of patients are PHI and require written consent
2
