Alberta Health Services (AHS) infromed 178 Albertans that their private medical information had been inappropriately accessed after launching an investigation and finding an employee doing so.

 The employee was accessing the records from Febuary to July of this year at Calgary's Richmond Road Diagnostic and Treatment Ventre using the provincial electronic health record system and AHS' Calgary Zone Clinibase system that handles referrals, watlists, pre-admissions/pre-registrations, admissions/registrations, bed management and transferring of patients.

Vice President of People and Legal  Privacy Todd Gilchrist says that the breach might destroy the trust the AHS has built up over the past couple years.

"This privacy breach is unacceptable and disappointing, especially given the extensive work AHS has done over the past several years to build awareness and understanding among staff of the importance of appropriately collecting, using, disclosing and protecting their health information,” comments Gilchrist.

“Albertans trust us to safeguard their health and personal information. Moreover, all AHS staff are required to act in accordance with Alberta’s privacy legislation, as well as AHS’ privacy and security policies. As an organization that holds accountability for ensuring the health records of Albertans are never inappropriately accessed, we will be further enhancing our efforts to reinforce the importance of appropriate access and safeguarding patient information."

 

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