Vol. 104 No. 43
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013
Box 40, 102 3rd Ave West, Biggar, Saskatchewan S0K 0M0
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20 pages
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www.biggarindependent.ca
Privacy breach being addressed in Heartland An alleged privacy breach in Heartland Health Region is under full investigation, region officials said last week.
Season at an end . . . Biggar Central School Junior Blazer QB Tyrus Thomson runs the ball against the visiting Outlook Blues, Thursday. The two teams wrapped the season by playing the juniors in the first half, holding to a 12-all score. Blues won the game
The breach, which was reported in August, included an audit of the Picture Archiving and Communication System
(PACS). The audit revealed that health information for 883 patients was viewed inappropriately by an
in the final seconds, final play of the fourth, 40-34. Check out biggarindependent.ca this Friday under our ‘Photo Galleries’ section for more pictures of the game. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
employee. The information viewed included radiology images and reports stored on PACS. PACS is a complete system of medical imaging records (reports and digital images) for health care providers to use when providing health care to clients. The personal health information collected by PACS includes name, address, phone number, date of birth, health services number as well as information about the type of diagnostic imaging exam, clinical results, and the physician’s name. As a result of the situation, Heartland is following corrective actions: • A letter has been sent to all affected clients explaining the breach and the region’s follow-up actions. • Disciplinary action has been taken against the employee. • The Office of the Saskatchewan Information and Privacy Commissioner has been informed of the breach and will receive a copy of the region’s investigation report. • eHealth Saskatchewan (the agency responsible
New progress report for elementary students in Prairie Spirit This fall, Prairie Spirit students in Grades 1 through 5 will take home a new progress report to share with their parents. The report will be used for all students in the school division, providing a consistent reporting format in all Prairie Spirit schools. “We are very pleased to introduce our new Student Progress Report,” said Lori Jeschke, Learning Superintendent. “The report reflects the importance of student self-assessment and goal setting along with meaningful feedback from teachers.” Jeschke added that the content in the progress report will not necessarily be a big change for parents and students, but it will be presented in a new format. This progress report is curriculum-referenced and details student progress towards the Big Ideas and Outcomes found in
the Ministry of Education curriculum. The division’s elementary progress report is consistent with provincial assessment practices to inform students and parents about student progress. In the “Academic Profile” section of the report, teachers will use one of the following five descriptors to provide feedback to students: • Meeting (M) – independently demonstrates a complete understanding of the curriculum; • Approaching (AP) – demonstrates a basic understanding of the curriculum with occasional support; • Beginning (BE) – demonstrates a partial understanding of the curriculum with frequent support; • Missing Evidence (ME) – missing, incomplete, or unacceptable work; • NT – not reported at this time.
Te a c h e r s a l s o h a v e the option of reporting “extending beyond the curriculum expectations” in the comments section under each subject area. In previous years, schools have used a number or a letter scale, for example, to report student progress. “With our new progress report, we are using consistent reporting practices that improve student learning,” said Jeschke. “The progress report is one of several important tools in our meaningful communication with students and parents.” In the Prairie Spirit progress report, students assess themselves and set personal goals for their future achievement. The report also includes a “Learning Behaviour Profile,” which speaks to the student’s personal qualities. These personal qualities, such as a lifelong learner, engaged citizen, sense of self and community
as well as work habits have always been a part of progress reports in the past and this information is now integrated into the report on the front page. The progress report was created by Prairie Spirit teachers and piloted in
four schools during the 2 0 1 2 / 1 3 s c h o o l y e a r. Teachers, students and parents in the pilot schools were invited to provide their feedback about the progress report through a focus group and through parent surveys.
f o r PA C S ) a n d t h e Saskatchewan Ministry of Health have been notified. • Review of current staff education with regard to increased awareness around confidentiality and privacy. • Development of improved processes and the ability to monitor and audit the PACS program. Heartland offered their apologies for the situation, adding that they consider the protection of personal health information a “matter of the utmost importance and we are confident that the steps underway will reduce the risk of such an incident occurring in the future,” a statement said, Friday.
Accident claims life near Kinley At 9:18 a.m. on October 17, Biggar RCMP responded to single vehicle rollover on a gravel road 8 kilometres north of Kinley. A 21-year-old female who was not wearing her seatbelt was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced deceased at the scene. An 18 month old toddler was removed from the vehicle unharmed. The toddler was transported by EMS to Royal University Hospital as a precaution. An RCMP Collision Analyst is on scene. Road conditions at the time of the accident were good. The name of the deceased is not being released at the request of the family.
Fall Glory . . . Mother Nature is getting us ready for the monochrome’s of winter by splashing us with colour. Soon the snow will fly, and the moaning complaint of CKOM’s Murray Wood will echo across the province until spring (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)