Personal Health Information Task Force

1
Personal Health InformationTask Force
2
Introduction

• The ACADIE-BATHURST Health Authority (ABHA) as
  well as all other RHAs have been struggling to
  conform to existing privacy legislation (POPIA)
• The ABHA has put in place a multidisciplinary
  Information Management Committee chaired by the
  Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) to develop and
  execute the IM Strategic Plan that addresses
  conformity to POPIA
• Presentation to concentrate on areas that have
  become major obstacles for the ABHA in achieving
  that

3
Scope of Legislation

• should apply to both recorded and unrecorded
  information
• must apply across the continuum of care
• if 2 entities are under different legislation it
  is very difficult to manage the exchange of
  information
• One Person One Record vision involves all
  interveners and to all types of information
• should override the other 20 Acts that relate to
  health information

4
Scope of Legislation
5
Consent

• Implied knowledgeable consent should be the
  standard
• Individuals have normal expectations of how their
  information will be used and shared in the
  delivery of care to them (ex. Information desk,
  family members calling for information)
• Express consent should be required for any
  secondary use of health information

6
Collection, Use and Disclosure

• Legislation needs to address the use of health
  information in populating provincial registries
  (ex. provincial Electronic Health Record, Common
  Client Registry, etc)
• Should be noted that the disclosure of
  non-identifiable aggregate data can have a
  negative impact on an individual

7
Collection, Use and Disclosure

• Legislation needs to address to what extent an
  individuals health information can be used and
  shared, without express consent, for
  administrative purposes
• Legislation needs to be clear how institutions
  are required to interact with law enforcement
  agencies and/or the courts and its officers

8
Conclusion

• Health Information Legislation should take into
  consideration not only the normal expectations of
  individuals and their families, but it must also
  not deter the workflow of the caregivers in
  providing efficient and effective health care.
• Government must be prepared to financially
  support institutions to conform to new legislation