Acting Ombudsman Mel Holley has released an updated fact sheet on eChart Manitoba, part of Manitoba’s electronic health record system that was launched in December 2010 at three health care locations. As of November 30, 2012, eChart was available at 90 locations, such as clinics and hospitals, with 3322 authorized users.
Developed and maintained by Manitoba eHealth on behalf of the Manitoba government, eChart brings together patient information collected at different points of care in Manitoba, including clinics, pharmacies, and labs. eChart contains personal health information about all Manitobans. Authorized health care providers can search, view and print the personal health information contained in eChart.
“With the growth and expansion of a system like eChart, we think it’s important to remind everyone that we can all exercise some control over our personal health information,” said Holley. “Anyone can, for example, make a request to find out who has viewed his or her personal health information because eChart maintains a record of user access. Anyone can also request access to his or her personal health information contained in eChart, or make a request to hide his or her personal health information in eChart.”
Information about how we can exercise these access and privacy rights is available on eChart Manitoba’s website and is also outlined in the updated “10 Points” fact sheet.
The Ombudsman’s role under The Personal Health Information Act includes commenting on the implications for confidentiality of personal health information of government programs and of using information technology in the collection, storage, use and transfer of personal health information.
“10 Points to Know About eChart Manitoba” is available for download here.
