What is the recommended policy for sharing patient information to maintain confidentiality?

• A. Disable access controls to speed up care
• B. Only share information on a need-to-know basis and with consent or legal requirement
• C. Share patient data with all staff without authorization
• D. Store passwords in patient charts

Answer: (B)

Protecting patient privacy means sharing information only when necessary to provide care and with proper authorization. The best policy is to disclose patient information only on a need-to-know basis and only after obtaining the patient’s consent or when a legal requirement requires disclosure. This approach follows privacy laws and the principle of minimum necessary information, helping to maintain trust and reduce the risk of unauthorized access. It also supports secure practices like role-based access, proper authentication, and keeping audit trails.

Disabling access controls would undermine confidentiality and security, making it possible for sensitive data to flow freely. Sharing patient data with all staff without authorization breaches privacy and violates policy. Storing passwords in patient charts is insecure and inappropriate; passwords belong in secure systems with proper protections, not in patient records.