Q&A: Notifications for misdirected faxes

Q: Is an organization required to notify a patient of a single misdirected fax?

A: You do not have to notify a patient of a single misdirected fax unless you have reason to believe it may have resulted in harm to the patient.

This questions was answered by Mary D. Brandt, MBA, RHIA, CHE, CHPS for Briefings on HIPAA. Brandt is a healthcare consultant specializing in healthcare regulatory compliance and operations improvement. She is also an advisory board member for BOH. This information does not constitute legal advice. Consult legal counsel for answers to specific privacy and security questions. Opinions expressed are those of the author and do not represent HCPro or ACDIS. Email your HIPAA questions to Associate Editor Nicole Votta at nvotta@hcpro.com.