Privacy & Security

RED DEER, Alta. – An internal investigation by Alberta Health Services (AHS) revealed 3,224 patients had their electronic health records accessed improperly over a two-year period at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre (RDRHC) by two clerical employees in the Diagnostic Imaging (DI) department. Read More

ST. CATHARINES, Ont. – Four Ontario hospitals are launching a digital identity service to give patients a convenient and secure method to access health information and services online. This initiative is being led by Niagara Health, building on the hospital’s foundational Navigator mobile app technology. Read More

OTTAWA – A new e-learning program will teach healthcare teams about the extreme and escalating risk of cyber-attacks in the healthcare industry – and how to avoid them. Saegis, a subsidiary of the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA), recently rolled out its comprehensive Saegis Shield program, an accredited cybersecurity and privacy awareness e-learning program that addresses the unique needs within Canadian healthcare. Read More

REGINA – The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Saskatchewan released a report on a cyberattack that hit eHealth Saskatchewan in December 2019, calling the breach one of the most serious ever to affect the province. Read More

MONTREAL – Following October’s cyber-intrusion into the digital information systems of CIUSSS West-Central Montreal, the first steps have been taken by the Information Resources and Digital Health teams to re-establish service, as required. The announcement was made by the Jewish General Hospital, part of the CIUSSS West-Central Montreal, on its website. Read More

VANCOUVER – WELL Health Technologies Corp., a company focused on modernizing healthcare clinics, has agreed to acquire Source 44 Consulting Inc., a provider of cybersecurity services and solutions for businesses that is based in Markham, Ont. “We are very pleased with the proposed acquisition of Source 44 as it complements our existing cybersecurity business unit and positions WELL as a leader in providing cybersecurity services,” said Hamed Shahbazi (pictured), chairman and CEO. Read More

MONTREAL – Information systems at the Jewish General Hospital were hit last week by a cyber-attack, and as a preventive measure, internet connectivity as well as external and remote access to the hospital’s networks were suspended. Read More

TORONTO – The College of Nurses of Ontario says it was hacked earlier in September and was the victim of a ransomware attack. Subsequently, the organization was trying to figure out if the personal information of its 300 employees and 195,500 members was compromised. Read More

HALIFAX – Nova Scotia Health announced earlier this week that it’s in the process of contacting 211 people by letter whose personal health information was inappropriately accessed in two separate and unrelated incidents. Read More

TORONTO – There has been a surge in hacking, phishing and other illicit online activities during the recent pandemic, security experts say. Moreover, the healthcare providers have been special targets, as cybercriminals take advantage of stretched healthcare resources. The Canadian Internet Registration Authority, which manages the .ca domain, has seen a 39-per-cent increase in cyberthreats against healthcare clients using its network security platform over the past 30 days. Read More