Saskatchewan health employee fired after unauthorized look at patient charts

The Heartland Health Region west of Saskatoon in the Kindersley area says the breaches occurred over 14 months and came to light in July.

It says all affected patients have been told in a letter.

Along with being fired, the employee’s professional association has been notified.

The privacy commissioner, the Ministry of Health and eHealth Saskatchewan have been told as well.

The health region says it will review and limit access to make sure people’s personal information remains secure.

It will also look at its authorization process when new electronic systems are brought in, regularly audit and monitor those systems and review with staff the confidentiality, privacy and protection of personal health information.

“The privacy of personal health information is something we take very seriously and we extend our sincere apologies to those patients affected by this breach,” Greg Cummings, president and CEO of the Heartland region, said in a media release Friday.

Earlier this year, the Saskatoon Health Region found an employee snooping into her own medical records and the records of five other patients for no reason. The health region said the employee claimed she was bored and curious.