HHS OCR guidance on de-identification (2012): what actual knowledge means (HHS OCR, Guidance Regarding Methods for De-identification of PHI, 26 November 2012, section 3.6)
Actual knowledge is clear and direct knowledge, such as a record naming a patient's unique job or a recipient who will recognise a relative; general awareness of re-identification research is not enough.
Dated 17 Oct 2026Source checked 17 Oct 2026Basis: primary text
In the source's own words
“In the context of the Safe Harbor method, actual knowledge means clear and direct knowledge that the remaining information could be used, either alone or in combination with other information, to identify an individual who is a subject of the information. This means that a covered entity has actual knowledge if it concludes that the remaining information could be used to identify the individual.”
Where it was read
Also read from the same source
- HHS OCR guidance on de-identification (2012): who is an expert (HHS OCR, Guidance Regarding Methods for De-identification of PHI, 26 November 2012, section 2.2)
- HHS OCR guidance on de-identification (2012): how an expert works (HHS OCR, Guidance Regarding Methods for De-identification of PHI, 26 November 2012, section 2.6)
- HHS OCR guidance on de-identification (2012): no fixed numerical risk level (HHS OCR, Guidance Regarding Methods for De-identification of PHI, 26 November 2012, section 2.3)
- HHS OCR guidance on de-identification (2012): methods and results documented (HHS OCR, Guidance Regarding Methods for De-identification of PHI, 26 November 2012, section 2.6)
- HHS OCR guidance on de-identification (2012): time-limited determinations (HHS OCR, Guidance Regarding Methods for De-identification of PHI, 26 November 2012, section 2.4)
- HHS OCR guidance on de-identification (2012): identifiers in free text (HHS OCR, Guidance Regarding Methods for De-identification of PHI, 26 November 2012, section 3.10)
Figures it counts in
It is shown on its own, not counted into a figure.
Cited in this guide