When a client receives medical services from a nurse on reserve or from a physician in a medical facility such as a hospital or clinic; their personal health information is collected, recorded and stored in paper or electronic form. The personal health information collected typically includes: name, address, date of birth, health services number, and information regarding current or past medical conditions and test results. This information is used by health care professionals on a “need to know basis” in order to provide the client with appropriate and beneficial health care services; and to meet legal reporting requirements.

As required by legislation, professional ethics and agreements; NITHA is accountable for protecting the personal health information of clients and for informing clients of their privacy rights. Generally speaking clients have the right to know why their information is being collected, how it will be used, who has or will have access to it, how it is protected, how they can request a copy of their own health information and how they can challenge NITHA’s privacy compliance.

Examples of where client privacy rights need to be carefully considered are in the development and implementation of eHealth solutions such as an Electronic Medical Record (EMR), the Saskatchewan Immunization Management System (SIMS) and the pan-Canadian public health system called PANORAMA.

The main role of the NITHA Privacy Officer / Advisor is to support the four Partners in protecting client information and client privacy rights. Activities to do so include the comparison of current privacy practices with those that are required; participating in ehealth and public health unit working group meetings; implementing NITHA privacy working groups to review and develop privacy policies and resources; responding to client and stakeholder requests regarding current “NITHA Partnership” privacy practices; representing NITHA at the Provincial Health Privacy and Access to Information Forum and; consulting with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) of Saskatchewan.

For more information regarding Privacy, please contact Receptionist at 306-953-5000 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

“Respecting Community and Client Information by Our Actions”