Skip to content

How to Anonymize a File ​

This guide walks you through anonymizing an EDI file in EDI Paisan.


Before You Start ​

  • Supported file types: 837P, 837I, 835, 270, 271
  • Browser requirement: Modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
  • Tier requirement: Free (view anonymized) or Pro (export anonymized file)

Step 1: Upload Your File ​

  1. Go to app.edipaisan.com
  2. Drag-and-drop your EDI file onto the upload area, or click to browse and select a file
  3. Wait for the file to parse

EDI Paisan will display the parsed file in the tree viewer.


Step 2: Click Anonymize ​

  1. Look for the Anonymize button in the toolbar
  2. Click it once to anonymize the file

The button will change to show Anonymized (highlighted) when active.

That's it — the file is now anonymized. All PHI in the viewer is replaced with masked values.


Step 3: Review the Anonymized Data ​

Navigate through the tree viewer to see the anonymized content:

  • Patient names → First letter preserved, rest masked (e.g., SMITH → SXXXX)
  • SSNs → Fully masked (e.g., 123-45-6789 → XXX-XX-XXXX)
  • Addresses → Masked while preserving format
  • Member IDs → Replaced with consistent anonymous IDs (ANON000001)
  • Dates of birth → Year preserved, month/day set to 01/01

Click on any segment to see the anonymized element values in the detail panel.


Step 4: Export (Pro Tier) ​

To download the anonymized file:

  1. Click the Export dropdown in the toolbar
  2. Select Export as EDI
  3. The downloaded file will contain the anonymized data

Pro Feature

Downloading anonymized files requires a Pro subscription. Free tier users can view anonymized data in the browser but cannot export.


Restoring Original Data ​

To switch back to the original (non-anonymized) view:

  1. Click the Anonymized button again
  2. The button returns to normal state
  3. Original PHI is restored in the viewer

The original data was never modified — anonymization only affects the display. Your source file is unchanged.


Tips ​

For Vendor Support ​

  1. Upload the problematic file
  2. Click Anonymize
  3. Export as EDI (Pro) or take screenshots of the viewer
  4. Share safely without exposing real patient data

For Training ​

  1. Load a real-world file
  2. Anonymize it
  3. Use the viewer to demonstrate EDI structure without compliance risk

Your Friend in EDI