Protected health information (PHI) refers to any information in a medical record that can be used to identify an individual and that was created, used, or disclosed in the course of providing a healthcare service.
PHI includes a wide range of identifiers, such as names, social security numbers, addresses, and medical records. Safeguarding PHI is essential under health privacy laws like HIPAA, as it involves sensitive information that, if disclosed, can lead to privacy violations and identity theft.