What type of information is considered part of protected health information (PHI)?

Protected Health Information (PHI) refers to any individually identifiable health information that is transmitted or maintained in any form or medium that relates to the past, present, or future physical or mental health condition of an individual. This includes information about the individual's health, healthcare services provided, or payment for healthcare services.

In this context, the correct choice involves a person's medical record number and social security number. Both of these pieces of information are considered sensitive and protected under laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The medical record number is unique to the individual and links to their specific health information, while the social security number can be used to identify a person, making it susceptible to identity theft if it falls into the wrong hands. Together, they are crucial for maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality in the healthcare setting.

The other options do not contain individually identifiable information about a person. General health tips shared in a seminar are not specific to any individual and do not constitute health information. Public health statistics represent aggregate data about health trends in communities and do not identify individual patients. Data collected from general health surveys might be anonymized or summarized without linking back to specific individuals, thus falling outside the definition of PHI.