Nursing Professional Development Certification (NPD-BC) Practice Exam

If a hospital has a data breach affecting 120 patients, what must they do if they can only reach 100?

1. Telephone the remaining 20 patients

2. No further action is required

3. Post a notice with a toll-free number on the organization's website

4. Notify the Department of Health and Human Services that 20 patients are unreachable

The correct answer is: Post a notice with a toll-free number on the organization's website

The hospital's obligation in the event of a data breach is to take reasonable steps to notify affected individuals. When they can only reach 100 out of 120 patients, they must fulfill their responsibility to inform the 20 patients who are unreachable through other means. Posting a notice with a toll-free number on the organization’s website is a valid measure, as it allows those affected to find information about the breach and seek assistance. This approach is consistent with the requirements set by regulations, such as HIPAA, which mandate that healthcare organizations notify patients of breaches to protect their privacy and rights. By providing a toll-free number, the organization ensures that affected individuals can still receive essential information regarding the breach, such as what data was compromised and how they can protect themselves. The other options do not fully address the obligations following a data breach. Simply telephoning the remaining patients or notifying the Department of Health and Human Services without offering the broader public notice may not meet the requirements for transparency and access to information. Therefore, the correct action is to provide a notice on the website along with a toll-free number to ensure that all affected individuals have the opportunity to access the necessary information.