Nova Scotia Health is transporting boxes of health records belonging to Nova Scotians to Ontario for digitization by a private company. A Nova Scotia Health worker, speaking anonymously to CBC News, disclosed that 900 boxes of records will be sent to Iron Mountain in Toronto for scanning and conversion to electronic format. The decision not to reveal the employee’s identity was made due to concerns about potential job repercussions.
The employee emphasized the importance of public awareness, stating that the central zone records of Nova Scotia residents are not in their expected location, potentially posing a health risk to patients. The absence of these records could lead to delays in accessing crucial medical information, impacting patient care and treatment outcomes significantly.
The employee criticized the outsourcing of this work, suggesting that local resources could have been utilized instead. They linked the accelerated digitization effort, involving a substantial backlog of records, to the upcoming implementation of the One Person One Record (OPOR) system in the central zone. Although Nova Scotia Health denied any direct association between the digitization initiative and OPOR, they confirmed a longstanding relationship with Iron Mountain Canada for record management services.
Concerns have also been raised by the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union regarding the potential privacy risks associated with sending sensitive health information out of the province. The union expressed dissatisfaction with the decision to subcontract this work to a private entity, emphasizing the availability of skilled local workers who could perform the digitization tasks efficiently.
Nova Scotia Health responded to these concerns by acknowledging the existing backlog of records and the challenges it poses to providing timely medical information to patients and healthcare providers. The health authority defended the decision to transport records to Ontario, citing the necessity to address the backlog promptly. They reassured that the handling of records by Iron Mountain has a history of secure transportation.
Overall, the situation has sparked debate between Nova Scotia Health, its employees, and the union, highlighting the complex considerations involved in managing and digitizing health records for optimal patient care and data security.
