Dubé proposes rules to safeguard personal information in telehealth

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Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé tabled a draft regulation on Wednesday to regulate and sustain telemedicine, particularly with regard to the protection of information.

The Réseau québécois de la télésanté, established in 2019, brings together stakeholders from the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the four telemedicine co-ordination centres, as well as the 34 health establishments.

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In addition to virtual consultation, other types of meetings with a professional can be carried out. For example, “télé-expertise” consists of a consultation between two health workers to confirm a diagnosis. There is also remote monitoring, which allows clinical data on a patient’s state of health to be monitored remotely.

Telemedicine in the broad sense made it possible to improve access to family doctors and specialist doctors when physical contact had to be avoided to limit the spread of COVID-19. But even outside the context of the pandemic, telemedicine has advantages, especially in facilitating access to a doctor for patients in remote regions of Quebec.

The Health Department believes that the sustainability of telemedicine will avoid treatment delays and offer greater flexibility for patients. They will continue to be seen in person when necessary.

Telemedicine also has its share of challenges. A 2022 report from the auditor general of Quebec on telemedicine recognized the existence of risks regarding the hosting of data and the presence of unauthorized third parties during communications.

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The draft regulation tabled on Wednesday reiterates that a person who consults a health professional by telehealth consents to the consultation being provided in this way. It indicates that obligations will be imposed on establishments as well as professionals practising telemedicine.

They must inform of the terms and conditions relating to consent to remote care.

“An organization must ensure that members of its staff and professionals who practise their profession there, including students and interns, receive training in the protection of information recognized by the minister, upon taking up their duties or the beginning of the exercise of their profession within the organization,” reads the draft regulation.

Establishments or organizations must also keep the information they collect and ensure its protection at all times, in particular by taking the necessary means to control access to the places where this information is kept.

They must also take the necessary measures to ensure that the information remains usable despite any incident affecting their support. They also have the obligation to put in place a procedure in the event of technological problems.

The supervision of telemedicine is part of Dubé’s vision with his health plan. The government is continuing work to implement the Votre santé digital platform, which will become the single point of entry for access to health services.

Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.

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