Use of an incorrect fax number between Aug. 6 and Sept. 16 has resulted in 22 Prairie North Health Region patients receiving letters from the region.
According to a press release, Prairie North Health Region has completed an investigation to confirm no patients were adversely impacted as a result of diagnostic imaging results being mistakenly faxed to a private residence, through the provincial Radiology Information System.
eHealth Saskatchewan is the provincial organization responsible for RIS.
"eHealth Saskatchewan takes full responsibility for the error and we sincerely regret any concern this may have caused patients," eHealth Saskatchewan CEO Susan Antosh said. "We have taken steps to further educate our staff and emphasize the importance of careful data entry and our commitment to patient safety."
According to the release, once PNHR was informed of the misdirected results, immediate action was taken to ensure the documents were disposed of securely. eHealth was notified, the fax number was corrected immediately, and the reports were re-sent within the appropriate acceptable length of time.
All of the patients' DI examination results were available electronically to the patients' physician, however many physicians like to also receive results by fax.
The incident was reported to Saskatchewan's Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. eHealth Saskatchewan is the Treasury Board Crown Corporation responsible
