PHI (Protected Health Information)
Individually identifiable health information created, received, stored, or transmitted by a healthcare organization. Securing PHI is a core HIPAA requirement that extends to all connected medical devices.
What is PHI (Protected Health Information)?
Individually identifiable health information created, received, stored, or transmitted by a healthcare organization. Securing PHI is a core HIPAA requirement that extends to all connected medical devices.
Protected Health Information (PHI) is individually identifiable health information created, received, stored, or transmitted by a covered entity or business associate. PHI includes any information about health status, healthcare provision, or payment for healthcare that can be linked to a specific individual. Under HIPAA, PHI in electronic form (ePHI) is subject to the Security Rule's technical, administrative, and physical safeguard requirements.
The scope of what constitutes PHI in a healthcare technology context is broader than most organizations initially appreciate. Patient monitoring data transmitted from an infusion pump or vital signs monitor is ePHI if it includes patient identifiers. Medical imaging files (DICOM) are ePHI. Lab results transmitted via HL7 are ePHI. Essentially any data in transit between clinical devices and clinical information systems in a healthcare environment may contain ePHI, placing the connected medical device network firmly within HIPAA's scope.
PHI protection in the IoMT context is complicated by the same constraints that complicate all IoMT security: devices that cannot be patched, encrypted, or fully monitored through traditional means. A healthcare organization that connects an infusion pump to a nursing station server is transmitting ePHI — and is obligated to protect it — but may have limited ability to enforce encryption or access control at the device level. Compensating controls and network-layer security become the primary PHI protection mechanisms.
Key Facts
- HIPAA defines 18 PHI identifiers that, when combined with health data, make information individually identifiable
- Unauthorized PHI disclosure carries penalties up to $1.9M per violation category under HIPAA
- Medical imaging systems (DICOM) are among the most common sources of PHI in healthcare networks
- Healthcare ransomware attacks are presumed to be PHI breaches under HHS guidance unless data access can be disproven
How ORDR Addresses PHI (Protected Health Information)
ORDR helps healthcare organizations protect PHI by ensuring that all devices handling ePHI are discovered, classified, and monitored. Segmentation policies generated by ORDR prevent unauthorized devices from accessing clinical systems containing ePHI. Behavioral monitoring detects unauthorized access attempts that may indicate PHI exfiltration, supporting breach detection timelines required under HITECH.
See ORDR in actionFrequently Asked Questions
Secure every medical device in your network.
ORDR gives healthcare security teams complete IoMT visibility, risk scoring, and automated segmentation—without disrupting care delivery.