1/3/2024 0 Comments Redacted copy pasteAs you can see above, although the 'file name' was changed to “ Report-Example-PDF.pdf”, the document ‘title’ was still carried over with the other metadata when converting from Word to PDF, and the original document was titled “ Medical Test Results report: JOHN SMITH”.After converting the Word doc to a PDF document and opening the document in my web browser (or in Adobe Reader), you can see the ‘document title’ highlighted below and displayed that contains PHI:.This is a word document that was redacted and will be converted to a PDF document for upload:.Both Microsoft Word documents and PDF documents carry this hidden metadata when documents are emailed, attached, uploaded, and/or digitally converted. Many readers do not even know that document metadata exists, but it is important to know when trying to safeguard PHI. What is document metadata? Document metadata is ‘hidden’ information that describes the contents and data of the document including the document title, the author’s name, date created, tags, comments, and other hidden text that cannot necessarily be seen when initially viewing at a document. You can compare the version options here: Īnother common mistake we have found trending is forgetting to remove document metadata. While Adobe is pushing its cloud version that has a monthly/annual subscription pricing plan, the ‘desktop software only’ version of Adobe Acrobat Pro is still available as a one-time purchase. The most widely used and reputable one is Adobe Acrobat Pro that features a redaction tool and other tools that help remove sensitive content from PDF documents before sharing. There are many third-party tools and software designed for managing digital documents and redacting. This method definitely prevents any copy/paste or hi-tech recognition possibilities, and it also helps prevent a reader from guessing the redacted content by trying to count the number of characters that were redacted (if it is a short redaction or phrase). Replace the parts that you deleted with “ ”. When possible, use your word processor program to edit and delete the sections or words that need to be redacted. This process will digitally 'flatten' the document and prevent the ability to ‘copy and paste’ the redacted text. If you have no other options than to use the hiding strategies of inserting black boxes or changing background colors to hide text, you can then print the document, re-scan the printed document, and then save it as a new, redacted version. (This is not a full-proof method however because apparently image recognition technology is good enough now to analyze words that have been ‘blacked out’ by this manual hand method.) Print your digital document, use a black sharpie (or black paper pieces) to cross-out/cover/hide the sensitive information, re-scan the document, and then save it as a new, redacted version. Depending on the software that a reader uses, some programs will allow the user to move or delete the black boxes that were created to hide the sensitive information or change the background color or text color back to reveal the hidden text.Įven the most experienced lawyers are not immune from these kinds of redaction mistakes as detailed in this article about a redaction fail in a recent high-profile court case.Notepad, blank email), and the information that you thought was hidden could be revealed. Even if you convert a word document to a PDF, a person reading could highlight and copy the section that is ‘hidden’, paste the text into another word editor (e.g.Issues that you can experience when using the two example strategies above: While visibly hiding the information might make it immediately invisible to the naked eye, it does not necessarily make the information inaccessible. Using the background color tool to create a black background behind black text (or changing the text color to white) so the sensitive information 'disappears' in the colored background.Inserting and placing a black box over the information that you want to redact. Some examples of hiding information include: One common mistake that people make with digital documents is 'hiding' sensitive information versus permanently removing sensitive information. The appraisers will stop the review if patient-sensitive information is identified. If potential PHI is found in the documentation during the review process, the organization will be notified and be given five days to remove from all sources. Protected health information (PHI) must be removed from all Magnet documentation. In accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ( HIPAA) and other laws and regulations, the inclusion of patient-specific information and employee-specific information as exhibits must be avoided.
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