Which regulation should be reviewed in preparing an education session about lost thumb drives containing PHI?

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act is particularly relevant when preparing an education session about lost thumb drives containing protected health information (PHI). HITECH focuses on the security and privacy of electronic health information, laying out specific requirements for the protection of such data, especially in the context of HIPAA.

When it comes to lost devices containing PHI, HITECH mandates that covered entities and their business associates implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect electronic PHI. This includes addressing incidents of breaches, such as lost or stolen devices. HITECH also includes provisions for breach notification, which requires that affected individuals be informed when their information is compromised.

In a scenario involving lost thumb drives, the guidelines provided by HITECH would direct organizations on how to manage such an incident effectively, emphasizing the importance of securing electronic PHI and training staff on the necessary protocols to prevent breaches. This makes HITECH the most relevant regulation to review in the context of this education session.