Health Information Personnel Practice Test

What is a data breach?

1. An event where patient satisfaction is not met.

2. An incident where unauthorized access to patient data occurs, leading to potential exposure.

3. A process for updating patient information.

4. An analysis of healthcare outcomes.

The correct answer is: An incident where unauthorized access to patient data occurs, leading to potential exposure.

A data breach refers to an incident where unauthorized access to patient data occurs, which can lead to the potential exposure of sensitive information. This definition encompasses various scenarios in which confidential data, such as personal health information (PHI), is accessed or disclosed without proper authorization. In the context of healthcare, a data breach can significantly impact patient privacy and lead to risks such as identity theft, financial loss, and a lack of trust in healthcare organizations. It underscores the importance of implementing robust security measures and protocols to safeguard patient data and ensure compliance with regulations like HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). The other options—issues related to patient satisfaction, processes for updating information, and analyses of healthcare outcomes—do not pertain to unauthorized access or data security, which is the core concern in defining a data breach.