By Tom Mark

Interior Health Investigates Information Breaches

Sep 29, 2017 | 11:05 AM

Interior Health says it’s investigating information breaches involving the personal information of about 500 current and former employees.

It says the information was found in the possession of two separate individuals arrested by Lower Mainland RCMP on two separate occasions in the last three months.

Spokesperson Mal Griffin says the breach is limited to employee records only and there is no concern for patient information.

External security and privacy experts have been brought in as part of the investigation.

“The protection of our employees’ personal information is extremely important to us,” says Mal Griffin, Vice-President for Human Resources. “We take this seriously, including the distress this situation may cause for our staff, and have moved quickly to investigate this matter.”

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IH has contacted all impacted current employees and is in the process of notifying former employees.

All are being offered one year of credit-monitoring services.

The Health Authority says it first became aware of a potential information breach in late June when it was contacted by Lower Mainland RCMP following the arrest of an individual who had possession of personal information of a number of people, the majority of whom were identified as IH employees.

An internal investigation was initiated and impacted employees were immediately notified.

Then, on Sept. 20, IH was notified by RCMP of a second, similar situation involving a different individual.

“It’s unclear how this information was obtained, but we see some linkages between the two incidents which has resulted in us enlisting the support of external security consultants,” says Griffin, adding that IH continues to assist the RCMP to the full extent possible on these cases, and has also reported both incidents with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner.

by Tom Mark