Canadian Healthcare Technology Logo
  • Issues
    • Current Print Issue
    • Print Archive
  • Advertise
    • Publishing Schedule
    • Circulation
    • Unit Sizes and Rates
    • Mechanical Requirements
    • Electronic Advertising
    • White Papers
  • Subscribe
    • Print Edition
    • e-Messenger
    • White Papers
  • Events
  • Vendors
  • About Us

GE [April2023]

GE [April2023]

Enovacom – Nova Hospital

Enovacom - Nova Hospital

Privacy & Security

Brian Beamish

Ontario to beef up laws to protect patient privacy

June 17, 2015


TORONTO – Ontario’s government has announced a plan to improve privacy and accountability in the healthcare system with new measures to protect the personal health information of patients. The province intends to introduce amendments to the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) to strengthen privacy rules, make it easier to prosecute offenders and increase fines.

Despite numerous breaches of patient privacy, Ontario has yet to successfully prosecute any offenders since the privacy act came into force more than a decade ago. The government has now vowed to roll out the legislation needed to enforce PHIPA.

“The proposed amendments to Ontario’s health privacy law will go a long way to protecting the privacy of patients as the health sector transitions to shared electronic systems,” said Brian Beamish (pictured), the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.

“I am pleased that the ministry consulted with my office in developing these measures and that it is moving forward to introduce them, as called for in my most recent annual report.”

The amendments include:

  • Increasing accountability and transparency by making it mandatory to report privacy breaches to the Information and Privacy Commissioner and, in certain cases, to relevant regulatory colleges.
  • Strengthening the process to prosecute offences under PHIPA by removing the requirement that prosecutions must be commenced within six months of the alleged privacy breach.
  • Further discouraging “snooping” into patient records by doubling the fines for offences under PHIPA from $50,000 to $100,000 for individuals and from $250,000 to $500,000 for the organization.
  • Clarifying the authority under which healthcare providers may collect, use and disclose personal health information in electronic health records.

The legislation would also re-introduce protections to electronic and other personal health information, as presented in 2013. These protections have been endorsed by the Information and Privacy Commissioner.

“No matter where people receive care, they deserve to know that they are protected by a healthcare system that is accountable and keeps their personal health information private,” said Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

“By increasing fines and requiring that privacy breaches are reported to the Information and Privacy Commissioner, we can help strengthen patient privacy and improve our healthcare system. If passed, these changes will strengthen Ontario’s position as the nation-wide leader in protecting patient privacy.”

PreviousNext

WP [900×150]

WP [900x150]

News and Trends

  • Oak Valley Health develops EWS for hospital and LTC
  • New gen AI system from AWS reduces paperwork, physician burnout
  • Fraser Health sees benefits through IT upgrade
  • NS upgrades PACS, implements leading-edge capabilities
  • Solutions for aging in place have never been more important in Canada
More from the Print Edition

Subscribe

Subscribe

Free of charge to Canadian hospital managers and executives in nursing homes and home-care organizations. Learn More

Follow us on Social Media!

Follow us on Social Media!

Medica 2023 [2]

Medica 2023

Nihi Fall 2023

Nihi Fall 2023

Advertise with us

Advertise with us

Sectra SaaS

Sectra SaaS

Change Healthcare [2]

Change Healthcare [2]

Tripp-Lite Eaton

Tripp-Lite Eaton

Zebra

Zebra

WP [900×150]

WP [900x150]

Advertise with us

Advertise with us

Sectra SaaS

Sectra SaaS

Change Healthcare [2]

Change Healthcare [2]

Tripp-Lite Eaton

Tripp-Lite Eaton

Zebra

Zebra

Contact Us

Canadian Healthcare Technology
1118 Centre Street, Suite 207
Thornhill, Ontario, Canada L4J 7R9
Tel: 905-709-2330
Fax: 905-709-2258
info2@canhealth.com

  • Quick Links
    • Current Print Issue
    • Print Archive
    • Events
    • Vendors
    • About Us
  • Advertise
    • Publishing Schedule
    • Circulation
    • Unit Sizes and Rates
    • Mechanical Requirements
    • Electronic Advertising
    • White Papers
  • Subscribe
    • Print Edition
    • e-Messenger
    • White Papers
  • Resources
    • White Papers
    • Writers’ Guidelines
    • Privacy Policy
  • Topics
    • Administrative Solutions
    • Clinical Solutions
    • Companies
    • Continuing Care
    • Diagnostics
    • Education & Training
  •  
    • Electronic Records
    • Government & Policy
    • Infrastructure
    • Innovation
    • People
    • Privacy and Security

© 2023 Canadian Healthcare Technology

The content of Canadian Healthcare Technology is subject to copyright. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is strictly prohibited. Send all requests for permission to Jerry Zeidenberg, Publisher.

Search Site

Error: Enter a search term

  • Issues
    • Current Print Issue
    • Print Archive
  • Advertise
    • Publishing Schedule
    • Circulation
    • Unit Sizes and Rates
    • Mechanical Requirements
    • Electronic Advertising
    • White Papers
  • Subscribe
    • Print Edition
    • e-Messenger
    • White Papers
  • Events
  • Vendors
  • About Us