Learning Objectives
| Learn about how health data and information are kept secure and private |
The Canadian laws we’ve learned about are designed to make sure that health data and information are kept private and secure, no matter whether they are stored as paper or in electronic format. However, electronic health data and information bring additional privacy concerns that must be considered by health care providers and organizations.
Why is Privacy Important?
Privacy is very important for health data and information because it helps build trust between patients and health care providers. When people know their health details are kept safe and only shared with the right people, they feel comfortable talking about their health. This is important for getting the best care. Overall, protecting privacy ensures that everyone can receive good care without worrying about their personal data being misused.
| Getting Better Care | When patients know their data and information are safe, they are more likely to talk openly about their health with their health care providers. This open communication leads to better diagnoses and treatment, as health care providers have all the information they need to help. |
| Keeping Data and Information Safe | Health data and information can be very sensitive. It includes things like medical conditions, treatments, and personal history. When this data and information are kept private, it means only the right people, like your health care providers, can see it. This prevents others from accessing it without permission. |
| Building Trust | Patients need to trust their health care providers. If people know their health data and information are kept private, they feel safe sharing personal details about their health. This trust helps health care providers give better care. |
| Preventing Discrimination | If health data and information are not kept private, it could be used unfairly against someone. Keeping health data and information private helps prevent this type of discrimination. |
| Laws Protecting Privacy | In Canada, there are laws that protect your health data and information. These laws say that health care organizations must follow strict rules about how they collect, use, and share your health information. If they break these rules, they can face serious consequences. These laws are enforced by Information and Privacy Commissioners and Ombudspersons. |
Keeping Your Data Safe and Secure
Data and Information Protection
There are specific federal and provincial privacy laws that protect your health data and information. These laws require health care organizations to obtain your consent before collecting and using your data and information. They must also inform you about how your data and information will be used and stored. If they break these laws, they can face heavy fines and other penalties.
Secure Systems
Health care providers use specialized software designed for health information management. These systems have built-in security features, such as encryption, which scrambles the data and information so it cannot be read by anyone who does not have the correct key. This makes it extremely difficult for hackers to steal or misuse health data and information.
Access & Password Protection
Health data and information is stored on secure computer systems that require strong passwords and access limits. Only authorized staff—like health care providers and administrative personnel—can access these systems, and only if they need it to do their work. Passwords are often updated regularly, and some systems even use two-factor authentication, which means you need to provide two forms of identification to log in, making it even harder for unauthorized users to gain access.
Continuous Improvement
Health care organizations conduct regular audits and assessments of their security measures. They check for any vulnerabilities in their systems and fix them promptly. This might involve software updates, security patches, and testing for any weaknesses that could be exploited by hackers.
Employee Training
All health care workers receive training on privacy and security practices. This training covers topics like how to handle sensitive data, the importance of not sharing passwords, and recognizing suspicious activity that could indicate a security breach. Regular refresher courses ensure that staff stay updated on the latest security practices.
Anonymization
Anonymized health data has been changed so that no one can tell who it belongs to. This means that personal details like names, addresses, and other identifying information are removed. Anonymizing health data helps protect people’s privacy while still allowing researchers and health care providers to use it to study health trends and improve care. For example, it can help find out how many people have a certain disease without revealing anyone’s identity. This way, we can learn important things about health while keeping individuals safe and private.
The course was developed in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada.