What action should an MAA take when leaving a workstation according to HIPAA guidelines?

Locking the computer when leaving a workstation is a key action to ensure compliance with HIPAA guidelines. This practice is essential for protecting patient information and maintaining confidentiality. By locking the computer, the MAA prevents unauthorized access to sensitive data, which aligns with HIPAA's mandate to safeguard personal health information.

When the workstation is locked, it ensures that only authorized personnel can access the data on the screen, reducing the risk of data breaches. This aligns with the principle of safeguarding electronic protected health information (ePHI) by ensuring that it is not inadvertently viewed or accessed by individuals who do not have the necessary clearance.

The other options—turning on the computer monitor, minimizing open programs, and exiting the program—do not provide sufficient security for the sensitive information that may be displayed or accessible on the computer. Minimizing programs may still leave data visible on the screen, and exiting the program does not prevent access to the computer itself. Hence, locking the computer is the most robust method of ensuring that information remains protected when the MAA steps away from the workstation.