A medical assistant needs to protect a patient's PHI when preparing an after-visit summary. Which identifier should be verified?

When preparing an after-visit summary, ensuring the protection of a patient's protected health information (PHI) is critical. Among the identifiers listed, verifying the mailing address is particularly significant because it serves as a unique identifier that is often linked directly to a specific patient’s health records. The mailing address is not only necessary for communication purposes but also can be used to connect a patient to their health information, making it essential to confirm it accurately.

In this context, while the other identifiers like Social Security number, date of birth, and phone number are also important for patient identification and protection of PHI, the mailing address is critical in the context of the after-visit summary, especially regarding the secure delivery of information. This is because the mailing address could be used maliciously if it falls into the wrong hands, while the other identifiers, though necessary to verify identity and provide care, present different levels of risks and concerns associated with specific health record documentation.