How should electronic PHI be secured during transmission?

Securing electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) during transmission is critical to maintaining patient confidentiality and complying with HIPAA regulations. The correct answer involves encryption, which is a process that converts information into a code to prevent unauthorized access during transmission. When ePHI is encrypted, even if it is intercepted during transfer, it becomes unreadable to anyone who does not possess the decryption key. This ensures that sensitive information remains secure while being transmitted over networks, whether it’s local or across the internet.

Encryption is specifically recognized by HIPAA as an effective method for protecting ePHI because it provides a strong layer of security, addressing potential vulnerabilities in data transmission. This measure demonstrates that a covered entity or business associate is taking the necessary steps to protect sensitive health information in accordance with the regulations.

In contrast, using standard email does not provide sufficient security as it can be easily intercepted. Publicly sharing ePHI poses a significant risk of exposure to unauthorized individuals, directly violating HIPAA's privacy standards. Simply compressing files does not inherently provide security, as it may reduce file size without offering any significant protection against interception. Thus, encryption stands out as the appropriate and effective method for ensuring the safety of ePHI during transmission.