Windsor Regional Hospital has confirmed that a paediatrician has lost hospital privileges due to improper accessing of patient records.
The physician, who has not been identified, allegedly accessed the patient records of hundreds of patients without the knowledge or consent of superiors or patients.
"Through the regional electronic medical records system, the physician inappropriately accessed limited information about certain patients without authorization," read a statement from the hospital issued Thursday night. "In some instances, the physician used that information to contact patients for the purposes of offering private health care services at a community clinic unrelated to a hospital."
The issue has been reported to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC) and to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, the oversight board of the province's medical doctors.
Families of patients whose records may have been accessed in this matter are being notified by mail. While the exact number of records accessed is not clear, letters have been sent to over 800 families with baby boys born between January and May 2024.
The hospital said that there is no evidence that the doctor retained the information accessed, or exported, printed, or sent it electronically.
The physician no longer has access to the patient information system, according to the hospital.
"WRH and the Erie St. Clair Region Hospitals have policies in place regarding confidentiality and privacy of personal health information to ensure compliance with applicable privacy laws, and does not tolerate unauthorized access, use or disclosure of patient personal health information," read the statement.