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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