Privacy
Children that are aged 16+ are automatically deemed 'mature minors'
What is false. The courts generally recognizes age 16 as the threshold for maturity, but the clinician/custodian must weigh several factors before a child earns that title
A patient wants her daughter to have access to all of her records except for her psychiatry consult letter.
What is an expressed wish we would honour
A patient is bringing her mom to an appointment and is told how long her appointment will be. Is this a breach?
What is NOT a breach. No health information was released. Length of appointment does not give any insight into what she is there for
Give an example of implied consent
What is:
A patient rolls up their sleeve while the nurse prepares an injection
A patient fills out a history questionnaire and provides it to reception
A doctor tells a patient he is referring them to a specialist - no objections made by patient
A patient hands their health care card to reception
A clinician discusses a patient’s test results with them in a quiet corner of the waiting area.
What is a breach? Discussing private information in a public area can expose sensitive details to others nearby.
Patients have the right to access any record containing their health information. However, there are some exceptions where access may be restricted, name one.
What is:
If access could risk the patient's mental or physical health or safety
Workers Compensation Info
If access could endanger the health or safety of others (e.g., public safety)
If releasing the info could prejudice ongoing legal proceedings or affect tests, audits, ax, etc. Ex: pending lawsuit
A patient's express wishes may be ignored in certain circumstances. Name one of those circumstances
What is: Incapacitation, Emergency Situations, Mental Health Concerns relating to their safety or the safety of others, Legal Requirements/Obligation, Advanced Directives
ABC Transportation is told the date/time & length/type of service for a patient they are providing transportation for as they require this information in order to arrange transportation. Is releasing this information a breach?
What is a breach. Regardless of a companies internal policies, a transportation company has no legitimate reason for needing that information. Providing the date/time and length of the appointment can be provided. But details regarding what the appointment is about, will not be approved under any circumstance without patient consent.
A neighbour of a patient calls and states that the patient has asked him to call and book their follow-up appointment on their behalf. Is patient consent required?
No, anyone can book an appointment on behalf of someone. The alternate contact would need to be able to provide the patient name - no details outlining what the appointment is about can be released.
A clinician is reviewing a patient’s chart but accidentally opens the chart of a different patient with a similar name. They close it immediately.
What is not a breach. Accidental access that is immediately corrected and not shared is typically not considered a breach under Alberta’s HIA
True or False: Misusing Netcare can result in an organizational-wide restriction for all users
What is True
A patient wants no information shared with her husband, including appointment dates and times
What is an expressed wish we would honour
The spouse of a patient calls and obtains a list of what foods the dietician told her husband to avoid for his cardiac health. She states that she is the one doing the cooking & shopping and her husband forgot what all foods he was told to avoid. Is releasing this information a breach?
What is a breach. Dietary recommendations are considered health information. Consent is required.
True or False: A spouse that is translating for a patient with limited/no English can be told what type of appointment the patient is having so they can relay that to the patient. Consent is not required
What is False. This would constitute a breach. Regardless of language barriers - the privacy rules still apply
A staff member enters their own medical chart to update their phone number that has recently changed to ensure they get a reminder for their upcoming appointment.
What is a breach? Staff members should not access their own or any family members’ records without following official procedures.
True or False? Patient health records CAN be disclosed to a Church if the patient signs a consent form explicitly stating to release the information to them
What is false: Regardless if the patient consents, medical records will NEVER be disclosed to a church. A patient can request access to their reports, and they can give them to them on their own. But we will never approve a release for that.
A patient requests that we only send reports to her new doctor, she will not be following up with the referring physician again
What is NOT an expressed wish we can follow as it goes against our obligations to the CPSAs standards of care
A patient’s medical record is left open on a computer screen while the clinician leaves the room for a brief moment. Another patient notices it.
What is a breach? Leaving patient information exposed on a computer screen unattended is a privacy breach.
True or False: A family member of an assisted adult that they provide care for can automatically access a patient's health information under the HIA if they’re involved in the patient’s care. Consent is not required.
What is False? They must provide proof that they are a designated legal representative. In the form of power of attorney, trusteeship, guardianship, enduring power of attorney, etc.
An email from a Social worker containing patient information is accidentally sent to an unauthorized recipient within the clinic, who has no need to know the information.
What is a breach? Sharing patient information with staff who don’t need access to it is a breach.
True or False: A patient's express wish can influence care or disclosure, but is NOT legally binding
What is True: An expressed wish is a non-binding preference
A patient requests that no one finds out that he has suicidal ideations and has thought about harming himself
What is NOT an expressed wish we can follow. In cases where a clinician is concerned about a patient's wellbeing, or the wellbeing of others, the information could be shared.
Shared with family and also first responders regardless of the patient's request
The husband of a deaf patient books an appointment for his spouse and is told type of appointment his wife is having. He claims that the patient can't remember what she is being referred for. He states he is her caregiver and it is okay to release this information. Is this a beach?
What is a breach? Sharing information without confirmed consent from the patient is a breach, regardless of the relationship, or the patient's disability. Deaf/Limited English/Assisted Adult etc. - does not mean privacy rules don't apply. They patient must give consent or the spouse must show legal proxy documentation
True or False: A healthcare provider can release a minor’s health information to their parents without explicit consent if it’s deemed in the minor’s best interest.
What is True? It is deemed in the child's best interest. In order to be a mature minor, it must align with their best interests and therapeutic plan. Therefore this minor is not deemed to be mature.
A dietician gets off a call with a patient and tells their colleague that the patient admitted to eating 6,000 calories in a day!
What is a breach! Staff in earshot are easily able to determine who they are talking about, as they know the call just finished. They also may have overheard the patient's name and other details from the call