Hay River Regional Health Centre Data Breach (2017)

Another privacy breach has occurred at a territorial health care facility — this time at a medical clinic in Hay River. As a result, the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority is commencing a review of patient files. In a news release, the authority says an internal audit was conducted after the discovery of "several instances where patient referrals to specialists and other medical services were either delayed or not completed." "The irregularities found included instances where non-essential patient information was improperly shared with heath care providers," the statement says. "This improper sharing of information constitutes a privacy breach and proper steps have been taken to notify the patients and the Northwest Territories Privacy Commissioner."