Patient Record Verification for Confidential Disclosure

As a nurse in a busy hospital, you are responsible for managing patient records and ensuring confidentiality of sensitive information. You receive a phone call from a family member requesting health information about a patient, but you suspect that the family member may not be authorized to receive such information due to the patient's privacy choices.

According to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), certain guidelines must be followed regarding patient information disclosure.

To maintain compliance with HIPAA regulations, you must ensure that any disclosure of patient information is limited to the minimum necessary to fulfill the request. Therefore, the first step you should take to maintain confidentiality is to verify the patient's expressed preferences regarding the release of information.

Before you provide any details, you need to confirm that the family member is listed as an authorized contact. Fill in the blank with the **exact action you should take first** to secure the patient's confidentiality: You should _____________ the patient's record to check if the family member is authorized to receive information.