Health Information // Detector
Find protected health information (PHI)
FileSentinel finds protected health information across your files so PHI does not leave your control without you knowing.
What it detects
What FileSentinel finds
FileSentinel detects health record identifiers, patient data, insurance numbers, and clinical terms that signal regulated content, combining them with the personal identifiers that make health data PHI. Findings are scored so genuine medical records rise above passing mentions.
Where it hides
- Word and PDF documents
- Spreadsheets and CSV exports
- Scanned charts and forms (via OCR)
- Text and email exports
// RESULTS — findings scored by confidence and severity
Why it matters
The risk of leaked health information
PHI is tightly regulated under HIPAA, and an unintended disclosure can trigger reporting obligations and penalties. It collects in intake forms, lab results, billing exports, and email attachments.
- Patient intake forms and clinical notes
- Lab results and medical PDFs
- Billing and insurance exports
- Email attachments and scanned charts
How FileSentinel handles it
Built-in detection, scored and local
FileSentinel reads inside your files on your own machine, flags health information with a confidence and severity score, and helps you remediate. Built-in detectors cover the common cases, and a custom rule builder lets you add plain-text or regex detectors for anything specific to your work.
Score
Every finding gets a confidence and severity score, so real health information rise above coincidental matches.
OCR
With OCR on, FileSentinel reads text inside images and scanned PDFs, catching health information in screenshots and scans.
Remediate
Redact values, mark false positives, or export a CSV, HTML, or PDF report, then share with confidence.
Private by design
Your files never leave your PC
Scanning, OCR, and remediation all happen on-device. FileSentinel makes no network connections to do its work, so the very data you are trying to protect never has to leave your machine to be checked. No server, no cloud, no upload step.
More FileSentinel scanners
Find and clean more sensitive data
Questions & answers
Find health information FAQ
How do I find phi & protected health information in my files on Windows?
Install FileSentinel from the Microsoft Store, point it at a folder or drive, and start a scan. FileSentinel reads inside your files, flags phi & protected health information, and scores each finding by confidence and severity so the real risks rise to the top.
Is scanning for phi & protected health information private?
Yes. FileSentinel runs entirely on your device. Scanning, OCR, and remediation all happen locally with no uploads and no cloud, so the data you are trying to protect never has to leave to be checked.
How does FileSentinel decide something is PHI and not just a health word?
It looks for health identifiers and clinical terms together with personal identifiers, then scores the combination. A record that pairs a name or ID with medical detail ranks far higher than an isolated health term, so real PHI stands out.
What file types does FileSentinel check for phi & protected health information?
FileSentinel reads inside documents, spreadsheets, text, and PDFs, and with OCR enabled it reads text inside images and scanned PDFs too, so phi & protected health information captured in a screenshot or scan is caught as well.
Get FileSentinel
Find PHI & Protected Health Information in Files
Install FileSentinel from the Microsoft Store and scan your files for sensitive data, all on your Windows PC with nothing uploaded.