Do you work with Personal Health Information?

The Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) sets rules for the collection, use and disclosure of personal health information.

All University employees who have access to personal health information during their employment and are involved directly or indirectly in the provision of patient care, must complete mandatory training.   

Personal health information is information about an individual that:

• • Identifies a person
  • Connects that person to receiving care at a hospital or another health care provider
  • Personal Health Information is defined in PHIPA as identifying information about an individual in either oral or recorded form that relates to the physical or mental health of the individual; relates to the provision of healthcare to the individual, including the identification of a provider of healthcare to the individual;
  • Any employees who interact with patients may unknowingly have access to personal health information.  Examples include: Administering tests, managing appointments, diagnoses, prescriptions etc.

The mandatory training, PHIPA for health professionals is available online through Avenue to Learn. Employees can access Avenue to Learn through Mosaic and need to request access to the training.

If you’ve been identified as an employee with access to Personal Health Information, complete the training by June 29, 2018.

If you aren’t sure if the training applies to you or your role, speak to your manager, or contact privacy@mcmaster.ca