Canadian Health Information Management Association Practice Exam

When sharing PHI with entities such as lawyers or police, these are considered what type of users?

1. Primary users

2. Regulated users

3. Secondary users

4. Tertiary users

The correct answer is: Secondary users

When sharing personal health information (PHI) with entities like lawyers or police, these entities are categorized as secondary users. This classification reflects their role in accessing PHI under specific circumstances, such as legal proceedings or law enforcement activities, rather than for direct patient care or treatment. Secondary users do not use the information for the primary purpose of delivering healthcare services but may require access to PHI for various reasons, including compliance with legal obligations or contributing to public safety. This recognition is crucial in ensuring that the use of PHI aligns with privacy regulations and maintains patient confidentiality while allowing necessary access for legal and investigative processes. In this context, primary users typically refer to healthcare providers who use PHI for direct care and treatment of patients. Regulated users may include entities governed by specific laws regarding how they handle PHI, but they do not encompass the broader scope of non-healthcare users like lawyers or police. Tertiary users might be considered researchers or academics analyzing health data, but this does not apply to legal or law enforcement contexts. Hence, the designation as secondary users correctly captures the role of these entities in relation to PHI.