Doctor inappropriately accessed patient records to promote private clinic, WRH says

Windsor Regional Hospitalsays a pediatrician has had their hospital privilegesrevoked forwhat it calls an "unauthorized access of certain patient information."

According to the hospital, in some cases the doctor used electronic medical files to contact families to offer them private health care services at a clinic.

The hospital did not name the doctor or say what services the clinic offered.

Once the activity was uncovered, the doctor was immediately told to stop, and an investigation was launched,WRH said in a media release Thursday.

The issue was also reported to the Ontario Privacy Commissioner and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, the body that regulates the medical profession.

"There is no evidence that the physician exported, printed, or otherwise electronically took personal health information from the hospital system, or retained any personal health information," the hospital stated.

The hospital said it doesn't know how many patients' records may have been inappropriately accessed, but as a precaution, more than 800 families who gave birth to baby boys between January and May have been notified by mail.

The doctor also no longer has access to electronic medical records.