Limited Data Set

A limited data set of identifiable information can be used without patient authorization for research, public health and health care operation purposes. The identifiable information in a limited data set includes admission, discharge and service dates; date of death or birth; age; and town, city, state or five-digit zip code. We can use PHI to create a limited data set for research, public health and health care operations only if satisfactory assurance, in the form of a data use agreement, is obtained. The data use agreement gives satisfactory assurance that the limited data set recipient will only use or disclose the PHI for limited purposes.

For research activities, you must receive approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) Administrator in the Office of Sponsored Research prior to the creation and utilization of a limited data set.

The following identifiers are excluded from a limited data set:

• Names
• Postal address information, other than town or city, State, and zip code
• Telephone numbers
• Fax numbers
• Electronic mail addresses
• Social security numbers
• Medical record numbers
• Health plan beneficiary numbers
• Account numbers
• Certificate/license numbers
• Vehicle identifiers and serial numbers, including license plate numbers
• Device identifiers and serial numbers
• Web Universal Resource Locators (URLs)
• Internet Protocol (IP) address numbers
• Biometric identifiers, including finger and voice prints
• Full face photographic images and any comparable image.

For information on how to request a limited data set, see Requesting Health Data Within LLUAHSC.

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