June 1-7 is Privacy & Security Awareness Week! Learn how to avoid the most common information privacy breaches and enter to win a $25 Starbucks gift card.

An information privacy breach often occurs unwittingly. Sometimes personal information is accessed without authorization, not properly destroyed or disclosed inappropriately. This can negatively affect patients and also result in serious consequences for staff. Read the examples and then do the short online quiz to enter the draw. Have fun!

*We’ve altered details in these examples to protect individuals’ privacy.

Example 1: Dr. A. Kent often receives reports that should be sent to Dr. C. Kent

Two doctors with similar names are commonly mistaken for one another. This has resulted in patients being assigned to the wrong physician, or for reports to be misdirected. Although Dr. A. Kent has reported receiving certain reports in error, this case of “mistaken identity” does often reoccur.

Example 2: While the staff who posted various comments did not identify the patient by name, the multiple posts could have resulted in the patient being identified. This is an unacceptable and unauthorized disclosure of personal information.” –Office of the Information & Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia

Social media allows us to share content and stay connected with friends and family like no other communications tool has done before. However, it has also created a breeding ground for privacy breaches. Recently, a nurse vented on social media about a challenging patient. This nurse’s friends (also nurses) commented in reply and shared information about the same patient. Even though this group did not use the patient’s name, this was still a privacy breach: any information relating to staff’s employment or patients cannot be shared on social media.

When in doubt

If you are in doubt about whether your actions or those of someone you know might be a breach of information or privacy, contact the Information Privacy Office to talk about it.

Quiz and prize draw

You will be asked to provide your name and health authority email address to be entered into the draw for a Starbucks gift card. The deadline to enter is June 7.

For more information visit our website or email us with questions.