Sask. Health Authority’s ‘hush memo’ just a reminder to follow privacy policies

A Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) briefing note was released on Monday that was seemingly urging employees to hide information from the media.

According to the SHA’s chief medical officer, Susan Shaw, the note — referred to by some as a “hush memo” — was not an attempt to withhold information from the media.

“I disagree with that interpretation. I think we fully support our physicians and all of our staff but having clarity when speaking on behalf of the organization or when you are speaking personally is something we need to be mindful of,” she said.

“I think the people that did receive it interpreted it that way. I don’t think what has been discussed elsewhere is consistent with how it has been interpreted internally.”

She says it was meant as a reminder for employees to be aware of privacy policies when in meetings that could have information made public by a freedom of information request.

“I think the memo was sent as an internal reminder to our physician leaders based in Regina but also it applies across the health authority that when we are communicating we should be communicating effectively and we should be mindful of our requirements under privacy legislation,” said Shaw.

“We fully support and comply with freedom to information requests, but there had been a recent one and there were some possible concerns that what was included didn’t meet the professional and privacy standards that we would be asked to be held to and my understanding is that was the primary reason for why the memo was written at that point in time.”

Shaw said she is not concerned about SHA physicians speaking to their professional groups but that everyone in the organization needs to avoid confusion and “discordant messaging” by being consistent in the way they communicate with the public.