Privacy commissioner criticizes SHA after more patient records faxed to Kelly’s Computer Works
In his latest probe into misdirected faxes from the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) to Kelly’s Computer Works in North Battleford, the provincial privacy czar said it is time for the “agency to get this issue addressed once and for all.”
For nearly two years, Kelly’s Computer Works has received faxes containing confidential patient information from the SHA. According to Privacy Commissioner Ron Kruzeniski’s latest report, Darryl Arnold’s company has received at least four confidential faxes since 2017, most recently on March 12.
Kruzeniski said in each case, the cause has been an employee incorrectly entering the fax number. The number for Kelly’s Computer Works and the file’s intended destination — a physicians office — are one digit apart.
In its investigation into the latest breach, Kruzeniski said the SHA asked Arnold to delete the fax. It is here the commissar raised red flags, as Arnold indicated this was not an easy process, as the faxes are routed through two email servers, both of which retain back-ups.