Toronto

University Health Network investigating electronic record error

Ontario's largest hospital network says it is reviewing five million electronic health records gathered over the past five years after a patient reported errors in his medical file.

Ontario's largest hospital network reviewing 5 million electronic health records after patient reported error

Ontario's largest hospital network, UHN, is reviewing 5 million electronic health records after a patient reported an error. (CBC)

Ontario's largest hospital network says it is reviewing five million electronic health records gathered over the past five years after a patient reported errors in his medical file.

The University Health Network says that it has also temporarily disconnected its patient record system from Ontario's electronic health records database while it investigates the error.

The network, which consists of Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital and a number of rehabilitation sites, could not immediately say how long the review would take or when it would be reconnected to the broader system.

The problem — first reported by CTV News — came to light when a patient found results in his file for tests he had not taken.

The hospital network says errors have been found in four patient records and is isolated to its system.

The privacy breach has been reported to Ontario's Information and Privacy Commission.