Which of the following is a recommended physical safeguard to prevent casual disclosure of patient information?

• A. Covers must be used on clipboards.
• B. Clipboards left in public view.
• C. Posting patient lists on bulletin boards.
• D. Discussing patient information in hallways.

Answer: (A)

Protecting patient information from casual disclosure relies on physical safeguards that limit who can see data in everyday settings. Putting covers on clipboards is a simple, effective way to keep patient identifiers and details out of sight when the clipboard is in public areas, so only authorized staff can view it. This directly reduces the chance that someone nearby can read patient information by accident. In contrast, leaving clipboards uncovered, posting patient lists on bulletin boards, or discussing patient information in hallways makes confidential data readily accessible or overheard, which increases the risk of disclosure. So, using covers on clipboards is the recommended physical safeguard.