Which of the following is included in the release of patient information?

• A. The date of the last disclosure
• B. The date of the first disclosure
• C. The reason for disclosure
• D. The patient's address

Answer: (A)

Understanding release of patient information hinges on keeping an auditable trail of disclosures. When information is released, the entity must document key details so there’s a clear record of what happened and to whom. The date recorded is the date on which the information was disclosed, and in practice the most recent disclosure date is included because it shows the latest activity and provides a current audit trail for that patient’s records. This helps protect patient privacy by letting staff verify when the most recent release occurred and to whom it went, which is essential if the patient requests an accounting of disclosures.

Other items aren’t typically the focus of the release log. The date of the first disclosure isn’t as useful for ongoing privacy oversight as the latest release, and while the reason for disclosure is part of the disclosure itself, the critical date information kept for accountability is the actual date of disclosure. The patient’s address is part of the patient’s contact information and isn’t what’s logged to track disclosures.