After a review of medical clinics in the province, B.C.’s Information and Privacy Commissioner says doctors need to do a better job safeguarding patient privacy. Michael McEvoy says the review of 22 practices from around the province shows definite gaps in managing private medical information – especially as clinics implement new computerized systems. “The survey shows there’s reason for concern,” he says. “Tests are not going out the window as we speak, but what is happening – there are not the really robust systems that need to be in place to reduce the risk of those tests or other kinds of information escaping from the doors of the clinic.” McEvoy’s report contains 16 recommendations for improvements to current practices, including clear reporting processes and better staff training. “Less than half the clinics we looked at did not have in place a proper, written breach responses that employees and doctors could follow so that if things were breached, then the breach was contained and the damage basically was minimized,” he says. McEvoy adds the College of Doctors and Surgeons supports his recommendations, and the report raises concerns about patient privacy across British Columbia. Source
