What should you do with printed materials containing PHI that are no longer needed?

• A. Destroy them by shredding to prevent unauthorized disclosure.
• B. File them securely for potential future use.
• C. Leave them in the open trash for disposal.
• D. Copy them for the patient file.

Answer: (C)

Printed materials containing PHI must be destroyed securely when they are no longer needed. This prevents private information from being exposed if someone finds or handles the papers. The standard approach is cross-cut shredding, which turns documents into unreadable pieces, or using a secure destruction service or locked destruction bins. Placing PHI in the open trash or recycling creates a real risk of data exposure, while keeping or filing it securely for potential future use isn’t appropriate once the material is deemed no longer needed, unless a specific retention policy requires archiving. In short, destroy PHI printed materials by shredding before disposal to protect patient privacy.