Which method is NOT used to destroy paper medical records?

The method that is typically not used to destroy paper medical records is recycling. While it may seem logical to consider recycling as a means of disposal, it does not ensure the complete destruction of the sensitive information contained in those records. When paper records are recycled, there is a risk that the documents can be accessed or reconstructed, thereby compromising patient confidentiality and violating privacy standards mandated by regulations such as HIPAA.

In contrast, the other methods—burning, pulverizing, and shredding—are actively used to ensure that paper medical records are destroyed in a manner that makes recovery of the information impossible. Burning incinerates the documents entirely, while pulverizing reduces them to tiny particles, and shredding cuts them into small strips or pieces. Each of these methods effectively eliminates any risk of someone being able to read or obtain the information within the medical records, thereby maintaining compliance with healthcare regulations concerning patient privacy and data protection.