Investigation Report: PHIA Unauthorized Disclosure – Victoria General Hospital
investigations & monitoring
health facility, body or trustee
Summary
Victoria General Hospital. Provisions considered: 18(1), 19. While attending the Victoria General Hospital for a medical procedure, a nurse collected an individual’s medical history through a verbal discussion in a semi-public area of the hospital, where others could hear the discussion. The individual complained about the hospital’s failure to safeguard her personal health information. Our office found that the hospital did not adequately protect personal health information from the risk of inadvertent unauthorized disclosure, and we supported the complaint. During our investigation, the hospital made changes to the layout of the unit to provide greater physical and visual separation of patients during the intake procedure. Our office concluded that because of these changes, the hospital implemented reasonable safeguards to protect personal health information discussed with patients during the intake process.
CASE 2017-0479