In a medical identity theft protection program, what should the HIM professional NOT do?

In a medical identity theft protection program, sending all issues directly to the in-house attorney is generally not an appropriate action for the HIM professional to take. This is because HIM professionals are responsible for managing health information and ensuring compliance with privacy regulations while balancing other responsibilities. While legal counsel may need to be involved in complex or sensitive issues relating to identity theft, it is not practical or efficient to forward every concern to the attorney.

The HIM professional should instead lead efforts in implementing safeguards to protect patient health information (PHI), ensure that privacy protection is balanced with the need for disclosure in cases of identity theft, and identify and provide resources to support victims. These actions directly contribute to a comprehensive and effective medical identity theft protection program, supporting not only regulatory compliance but also enhancing patient trust and care. Each of these responsibilities is critical to managing and protecting health information effectively, which is essential in the context of medical identity theft prevention and response.