The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) has released detailed on privacy breaches at the hospital.
CKHA officials say during a recent routine audit of patient electronic health records, CKHA discovered that two employees accessed a number of health records without an apparent valid reason to do so.
CKHA immediately launched an investigation which revealed that these employees inappropriately accessed the records of approximately 120 patients, hospital officials say.
Based on the result of the investigation and given the lack of pattern to the inappropriate accesses, it was determined these are cases of random snooping due to curiosity.
CKHA can also confirm that the employees did not copy or print the health records that were inappropriately accessed.
Snooping is unacceptable and the employees no longer work for CKHA, hospital officials added.
“CKHA is committed to patient centred care and preserving patients’ trust in the care they are receiving and the staff providing that care,” said Lori Marshall, President and CEO, CKHA, in a media release.
“We regret that these privacy breaches happened. We will continue the routine auditing of patient electronic health records.”
CKHA provides staff education with annual privacy training in addition to annual Hospital Information System (Cerner) training.
The hospital will be also be implementing further privacy education through its internal communication tools, hospital officials say.
In November 2020, CKHA’s new electronic record system was implemented which now provides the hospital with enhanced auditing capabilities and strengthens the ability to protect the privacy and confidentiality of patients.
This includes the specific auditing tools that help the Privacy Office ensure appropriate use of records.
Employees are bound by professional and legal obligations to respect patient privacy and, in addition, CKHA requires all employees to sign confidentiality agreements, hospital officials say.
CKHA has reported these privacy breaches to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC).
CKHA has notified individuals affected via mail.
The hospital has invited those individuals to contact its Privacy Officer, Melissa Johnson at 519-352-6401 extension 6316 with any questions they may have.
