Handling Personal Health Information: An in-depth training session

Medical reports and health care records contain highly personal, sensitive information. As a result, a request for medical information from an employee raises a host of privacy and human rights concerns. Nevertheless, employers and unions are often required to handle employees' personal health information in order to facilitate accommodation, sick leave, and/or disability benefits. In these instances, it is crucial for workplace parties to strike an appropriate balance between obtaining the required information and respecting employee privacy.

Working through interactive exercises and realistic scenarios with the guidance of experienced counsel and medical experts, participants will gain the skills and knowledge to:

• Craft effective requests for medical information that comply with human rights and privacy law
• Understand health records and respond appropriately to vague or deficient medical reports
• Identify when medical information from a specialist, psychologist, or psychiatrist is required for the purposes of sick leave, accommodation, or disability benefits
• Comply with federal and provincial privacy legislation and protect confidential medical information in the workplace
• Avoid wasted time litigating over the collection, storage, and disclosure of medical information
• Use medical evidence effectively in the grievance and arbitration process

MATERIALS
Includes materials, with case summaries and analyses, prepared by Lancaster's legal staff.