Controlled-substance log redaction is the removal of patient and staff IDs from a scheduled-drug register. It meets the HIPAA Privacy Rule (45 CFR Part 164). anonym.plus runs locally and keeps the medicine, count, and balance.
When this applies
A scheduled-drug register names the patient and the witnessing staff per line. For a diversion review, you clear those IDs but keep the counts and balances.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Load the register into anonym.plus on your device.
- It finds patient and witness names plus staff IDs.
- Dates and badge numbers get flagged across each line.
- Confirm the flags; the medicine and count stay as non-IDs.
- Black out items for the review, or swap them for analysis.
- Save the clean file; the source stays on your machine.
What you need to provide
- The register (CSV, PDF, DOCX, or system export).
- A column map for the witness and badge fields.
- An operator (Redact for a diversion review).
PHI entity types detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Names | PERSON | patient column → [PATIENT] |
| Names | PERSON | witness initials → [STAFF] |
| Dates | DATE_TIME | 08:00 03/05 → [TIME] |
| Identifiers | NATIONAL_ID | staff badge → [STAFF_ID] |
| Record IDs | MEDICAL_RECORD_NUMBER | entry no. 9921 → [ENTRY_ID] |
| Location | LOCATION | Ward 3 safe → [SITE] |
Compliance achieved
- Meets the HIPAA Privacy Rule (45 CFR Part 164) for reuse.
- Keeps the medicine, count, and balance, which are not patient IDs.
- Offline work keeps the register inside your facility.
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Limitations & cautions
These registers are tightly tabular. Check that the witness and badge columns are mapped, since initials are easy to miss yet name a person. The medicine, count, and balance stay and are not treated as IDs.
Frequently asked questions
Are witness initials IDs?
Yes. Witness initials and badges name the staff who signed off, so they go for de-identification. The medicine and count entries stay.
Can I keep the running balance?
Yes. The medicine, count, and balance stay, so the register still supports a review.
Does it read system exports?
Yes. CSV exports and printed registers both work, all on your own device.