Q&A: Accessing electronic PHI in public places

Q: I have to fly to a conference for work. I was hoping to work on the way, at the airport and on the plane, but I sometimes need to access electronic PHI to get my work done. What should I do to ensure that I stay HIPAA compliant while traveling and working in public places?

A: Installing a privacy screen on your laptop is a good first step. You can usually find a reasonably private spot to work in at the airport where someone is not close enough to read what’s on your laptop screen. If you’re working on the plane, turn your laptop screen away from a nosy seatmate. Unless you’re looking directly at the laptop, the privacy screen will obscure information from a casual viewer.

Editor's note: Mary D. Brandt, MBA, RHIA, CHE, CHPS 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.