This week is Data Privacy Week – an important opportunity to reflect on how we protect the privacy and personal health information of our clients at IWK Health.
This year’s theme for Data Privacy week is “prioritizing privacy by design,” highlighting the importance of building privacy protections into systems, tools, and roles from the very beginning. At IWK Health, ensuring privacy is a core part of how we care for the children, youth, adults and families that we support. We know that when you come to visit an IWK Health location, you’re trusting us with some of the most personal details of your life. We take that responsibility seriously.
Why privacy matters
Health information can be deeply personal. Protecting privacy helps create a safe, respectful environment where patients and families feel comfortable being open and honest, which is essential for providing the best care possible.
Access only when it is truly needed
One of the most important ways we protect privacy is by carefully controlling who can see health information. IWK team members are given access only to the minimum amount of information required for their specific role. This role-based access helps ensure that personal health information is viewed only by those directly involved in a patient’s care or in an approved activity.
Access is reviewed regularly to ensure it continues to match a team member’s responsibilities. When someone changes roles or goes on leave, their access is updated or removed, as needed. Limiting access and reviewing it consistently helps reduce the risk of accidental or inappropriate viewing of patient records.
Ensuring privacy through systems and technology
At the IWK, privacy is built into systems and digital tools from the start. Before any new technology is introduced, it is assessed by IT security and privacy experts to identify risks and ensure protections are in place.
These reviews examine what private information is collected, why it is needed, and how it will be accessed and protected. Systems are designed to minimize the amount of personal information involved and to restrict access automatically, based on approved roles. This helps ensure technology actively supports privacy and reduces the risk of information being shared beyond what is necessary.
Education, oversight, and accountability
Protecting privacy also means supporting our staff. IWK employees receive ongoing education about privacy, confidentiality, and our policies, and their work is subject to audits and monitoring. These best practices help protect our patients and their families, staff, and the trust our community places in us.
Your trust matters
Strong privacy practices help ensure compliance with privacy laws, but more importantly, they help build trust.
When families know their information is handled with care and respect, you can focus on what matters most - your health and wellbeing.
Visit IWK Health’s “Privacy, Confidentiality, and Access to Information” for more information.
For information, tips, and resources about Data Privacy Week, visit the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada website.