 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| • | Preparatory to Research | |
|
| – | defined as any action taken, where access to | |
| PHI is required, for assessing the research | |
| question/hypothesis such as accessing medical | |
| records or querying of databases to prepare a | |
| research protocol. | |
|
| • | The use or disclosure of the PHI is sought solely for |
| the purpose of preparing a research protocol. | |
|
| • | The PHI will not be removed from the covered entity. | |
|
| • | This PHI is necessary for the purpose of a research |
| study. | |