When it's broken, tell someone

Recent news about fax transmissions going to the wrong number have sparked more internal reviews for private walk in clinics in Winnipeg.

Along with the Provincial After Hours Program and multi departments at the Health Sciences Center, Four Rivers Medical Clinic has been mistakingly sending faxes to someone's home number.

Apparantly this has been happening for years. If that is the case ... why did it take so long for someone to find out? When I dropped a glass I was taught to tell Mom right away.

At least something can be done now, Four Rivers Medical Clinic is taking the initiative and contucting a full review of their procedures, as well as adding a special speed dial and disclaimer on the bottom of their fax cover sheets indicating where to call and who to tell in case this happens again.

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Taken from CBC News:

Medical faxes misdirected to Winnipeg woman's home
Last Updated: Thursday, September 13, 2007 3:19 PM ET
CBC News (CBC.ca)

Personal medical information from several health facilities in Winnipeg have been faxed to someone who has nothing to do with the cases — and the problem continued even after provincial health officials were alerted, CBC News has learned.

Christina Sikorsky said that, for years, she has been receiving faxes destined for the Mount Carmel Clinic in Winnipeg, which has a fax number similar to Sikorsky's home number.

The faxes — which have been sent from doctor's offices, the Four Rivers Clinic on Broadway, two departments at the Health Sciences Centre and the province's own after-hours office — contain detailed, personal medical information about patients.

"[It's] human error," said Heidi Graham, a spokeswoman for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.

"Somebody is typing in a fax number and they type in the wrong digit at the end. That happens lots of times, you know, probably when you make phone calls."

Sikorsky complained about the faxes to provincial Health Minister Theresa Oswald and received a letter in return.

"The inappropriate disclosure of personal health information is a matter of great concern," Oswald said in the letter, dated Aug. 1.

"Manitoba Health and Healthy Living is taking action to remind facilities and practitioners that they must ensure that personal health information transmitted by fax is securely transmitted."

However, the faxes kept coming — and when the CBC contacted the facilities that had been sending them in error, they said they had not been notified of the problem.

"It's very unfortunate that that error occurred. I'm real happy that it wasn't to the magnitude of, you know, stacks of medical files in a dumpster or something like that … but it's still serious," said John Stinson at the Four Rivers Medical Clinic.

"We've dealt with it quickly, and frankly, thanks to you guys, in some ways," he added.

Stinson said the number for Mount Carmel Clinic's fax machine is now in their speed-dial, and the clinic is taking other steps to help prevent the problem in the future.

Sikorsky said the kind of medical information she received shouldn't be faxed at all. However, the practice isn't likely to change.

"We need to ensure the system is working every day to ensure that privacy is being protected, while at the same time achieving that balance of being able to transmit information rapidly so the people can get the care that they need as quickly as possible," said Oswald.

People whose medical information was inadvertently transmitted to the wrong person might not know, as there is no law in place to ensure they are notified.

The province and the federal government are both reviewing their privacy policies to determine whether changes should be made.

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Winnipeg Doctors - Walk in Clinic

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In the news - recently numerous medical clinics have been under pressure by media due to rumours about screening patients.

Can a physician screen their potential patients? By law they cannot. But they also have to think of their practice as a business, and as a business owner do they have the right?

The College of Physicians and Surgeons says "No - The college certainly wouldn't condone screening or rejecting patients".

Four Rivers Medical Clinic in Winnipeg have stepped up to the table and publicly announced they will review their internal procedures so that everyone has the same rights to access medical services.



Taken from Sun news:

Walk-in history bars patients from clinic
Provided by: Sun Media
Written by: SHANNON VANRAES
Sep. 9, 2007


Hippocratic hypocrites?
Cherry-picking doctors
At least one Winnipeg medical centre is reviewing its practices after patients were rejected for previously visiting its walk-in clinic.

An official at Four Rivers Medical Clinic says it will examine its procedures after patients at the Broadway location were rejected by a family physician because they had visited its walk-in clinic.

"It's disappointing to hear that, and we'll look into it," said Daren Jorgenson of the Jorgenson Group of Companies, which owns the medical centre.

DIFFICULT OR AGGRESSIVE

He said doctors are allowed to set their own policies but he believes the rejections were based on a misunderstanding by administrative staff.

Sun Media spoke with Four Rivers staff on Broadway on two separate occasions last month and was told some doctors don't want to deal with walk-in patients because they may be more difficult or aggressive.

Jorgenson said policies will be clarified with staff, but added the purpose of Four Rivers is to provide medical services in areas where there is a strong need.

"We operate clinics in the toughest neighbourhoods in Winnipeg," he said, adding it isn't always easy to encourage physicians to work in inner-city locations.

Some physicians practicing family medicine enjoy meeting different people.

"It appealed to me because of the wide variety of people and interaction with people," said Dr. Benjamin Wiesenthal, who has been in practice since 1983.

Wiesenthal said doctors tend to focus on specific areas depending on their "temperament," adding he no longer treats children, referring them to other doctors instead.

ALL TYPES REPRESENTED

Jorgenson said doctors may limit who they accept as patients to ensure all types of patients are represented and that they don't end up with only one age group or sex.

Tom Bailey, president of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, said doctors are trained to deal with all types of patients.

"The college certainly wouldn't condone screening or rejecting patients," he said.

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This issue will be updated as it develops, reader comments are welcome.

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Time for change and growth is the flavor of the season; with the kids going back to school and parents either taking a deep breath of relief or getting back into work again it will be a busy 4 months until Christmas.

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