Employees Fired for Privacy Breach at Island Health

Vancouver Island Health has investigated an incident involving two employees who breached the privacy of 112 people.

The people who had their confidential information breached are said to have received health care services through Island Health. The Health Authority has since notified those affected and apologized for the breach. According to a release from Island Health, its investigation confirmed that employees used their access privileges to the electric health record out of curiosity. The two employees had no care relationship to the patients.

“The investigation began after Island Health’s Information Stewardship, Access and Privacy office was advised in early October of an allegation of inappropriate access to personal information,” said Island Health in a statement. “As part of the investigation, immediate steps were taken to ensure the employees’ access to any personal or confidential information was revoked."

Island Health confirms that both employees have been fired from the organization following the investigation.

“It is extremely disappointing and completely unacceptable that staff members would breach a patient’s right to privacy, and it is a total violation of the confidentiality acknowledgement that must be signed by each of our employees and physician partners,” said Dr. Mary Lyn Fyfe, Chief Medical Information Officer for Island Health. “It also violates the trust people place in us. First and foremost, we sincerely apologize to those directly impacted by this, but we also apologize to all our clients, patients and residents.”

Access to patient records for reasons other than an authorized work-related purpose directly contravenes Island Health’s Terms of Employment.