Here’s How Training Supports HIPAA Privacy Breach Prevention.
In a recent news report from FOX10, a disturbing breach of patient privacy occurred at the Mobile County Health Department, where a staff member released protected health information (PHI) over the phone—even after the caller gave an incorrect date of birth.
What Happened?
According to FOX10, a woman is now facing criminal charges for impersonating someone and successfully obtaining their private health records by phone. Despite providing the wrong date of birth, the caller was still given access to information that wasn’t hers—a clear violation of HIPAA regulations.
This incident is a textbook example of a preventable HIPAA privacy breach. It wasn’t a hacker or ransomware. It was human error at the point of contact—something that happens all too often in healthcare settings.
What Went Wrong?
The patient data breach was a result of failure to follow verification protocols. Even when a red flag appeared (the incorrect date of birth), the staff member proceeded to share PHI without confirming the caller’s identity through additional means.
This kind of error is exactly what HIPAA and Privacy Breach Prevention training is designed to block. But not just any training—training that focuses on real-world situations and reinforces best practices for every frontline team member.
How Brightsquid Privacy Breach Prevention Training Could Have Prevented This
Brightsquid’s Privacy Breach Prevention Training is specifically designed to help healthcare staff understand:
- The rules and principles to follow for safely disclosing information
- The definition of a privacy breach and common causes to avoid
- The importance of keeping patient data safe
- The legal consequences of privacy violations—for the clinic and the individuals involved
- The rules and principles to follow for safely disclosing information
If the staff member at the Mobile County Health Department had taken Brightsquid’s training, they would have been equipped to:
- Recognize that a mismatched date of birth is a stop sign, not a minor detail
- Politely refuse to share information until proper verification was provided
- Understand that “trying to be helpful” can still be a breach
- Recognize that a mismatched date of birth is a stop sign, not a minor detail
The Bottom Line
This breach was not a system failure—it was a training failure. And it could happen at any clinic if your team isn’t properly prepared.
If you’re a healthcare provider or clinic administrator, now is the time to ask these questions:
- Are your staff trained to handle real-world privacy risks?
- Would they know what to do if a caller gives partial or incorrect info?
- Do you have audit-ready proof that they’ve been trained recently?
- Do they understand that they don’t get to decide which information is protected?
- Are your staff trained to handle real-world privacy risks?
With Brightsquid’s Privacy Breach Prevention Training implemented in your clinic, the answers will be yes.
Protect Your Patients. Protect Your Practice. Prevent Breaches
Brightsquid HIPAA Privacy Breach Prevention Training is included with Secure-Mail and can also be licensed for teams of any size, with volume discounts available. The certificates your team will earn can qualify for continuing education credits.
Contact us to learn more about how to access our proven privacy training course and equip your team with the information that stops breaches before they happen.