Response to TNN story: “Patient confidentiality concerns highlighted at Southside lab” https://www.tnnbda.com/home/details/NX20200430115219

The Minister of Health would like to stress that patient confidentiality for public health is front and centre of the COVID-19 fight including for testing and contact tracing. With that in mind, we would refute the concerns made in the TNN story of 30th April 2020 regarding patient confidentiality concerns regarding the testing at either the Bermuda Government Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory or the Helix Laboratory.

The Ministry of Health had not received any clarifying questions for this article and therefore would like to issue the following explanation on the testing and the comments made in the press conference:

1.       In her response to a question, the Minister of Health was referring to the differences in how patients access the labs. For the Helix lab the referrals are made by a physician. For the Bermuda Government Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory it is a self-referral and is based on the job the person holds – i.e. essential worker

2.       Both labs will refer test results to the Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (ESU). Right now, Bermuda Government Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory is reporting only positive results to ESU.

3.       There is then a slight difference in how results reach the patient for each lab, but both respect the confidentiality of the patient:

a.       For Helix, the results will be returned to the physician who will inform the patient and if the patient is positive, ESU will follow-up for contact tracing

b.      For Bermuda Government Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, the results will be returned to the patient, as they are the ones referring themselves, and if the patient is positive ESU will follow-up for contact tracing.

The intent is to have reporting for both labs to go to physicians to assure patients who test positive are provided follow-up care. That procedure should be in place by next week as the contact lists of physicians have been shared with both labs.

It should be clear, that in neither situation is the patient’s confidentiality breached as in both instances their consent has been given to have the test and in both reporting scenarios the information is delivered only to the patient or the patient and their physician. The difference is how the results reach the patient and that is based on the referral process.

We do not wish for persons to be concerned that their confidentiality has been breached.