November 13, 2014
Province Advises Former Employee Inappropriately Accessed Personal Health Information
Manitoba Health, Healthy Living and Seniors advises a complaint was received from an external agency about a staff member working for the department. In the course of investigating this complaint, it was discovered the former employee had inappropriately accessed the personal health information of at least 13 people.
- This individual no longer works for the department.
- The information uncovered in the investigation has been turned over to the ombudsman’s office and a formal investigation is underway.
- The department is directly contacting affected individuals. If other individuals are identified as the investigation continues, they will be notified.
- Not all department employees have access to personal health information. Under the Personal Health Information Act (PHIA) and the department’s policies and procedures, employees are only authorized to access information if it is necessary to carry out their responsibilities based on an employee’s defined work requirements.
- The department’s current PHIA policies and procedures are being reviewed and updated as necessary, and new policies and procedures are being implemented. This will further enhance accountability and provide additional mechanisms to monitor compliance with the Personal Health Information Act.
- The act was enacted in 1997 to ensure an individual’s access to their personal health information and ensure the privacy of personal health information maintained by health-care providers and facilities, government and other public bodies.
- In 2013, the Manitoba government implemented amendments to further protect the privacy of personal health information including changes to promote increased personal accountability.
- The amendments, including the possibility of prosecution, are intended to address situations where a person chooses to abuse their access to personal health information and violates the privacy rights of others.
For more information on the Personal Health Information Act, visit www.gov.mb.ca/health/phia/index.html.
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