University statement regarding H.A. Leeper Speech and Hearing Clinic

By Communications Staff
April 18, 2011

The University of Western Ontario wishes to express its sincere regret to all those who have been affected by the loss of some personal information at the H.A. Leeper Speech and Hearing Clinic, located at Elborn College.

Western is advising families of children who were clients of two of the clinic’s audiology and speech therapy programs that a copy of approximately 4,500 personal data records, contained on an electronic data storage device, has gone missing. Individual letters were mailed on Monday, April 18 to clients at the last address we have for them in our records. The clinic is part of the School of Communication Sciences & Disorders in the Faculty of Health Sciences.

The records are related to clients who attended the tykeTALK preschool speech and language program and the Infant Hearing Program (IHP). The records of clients who attended other programs at the clinic were not involved. Also, this incident does not affect any other locations where the tykeTALK or IHP programs are offered.

There is no indication the records were deliberately removed or that they are in anyone’s possession. However, despite an exhaustive, ongoing investigation by the university, the device on which the information was stored cannot be located. 

Most of the missing data is contact information such as client names, mailing address and phone number(s); as well as information or notes of gender, birthdate, referring doctor, clinic, agency or therapist; and if service was provided off-site, the name of the school or daycare where clients were treated. 

Those affected by this incident should know that no detailed medical or health care reports (such as physician reports, referral reports, assessment reports or discharge reports) were included in the electronic backs-ups in this case. Also, there were no financial records of any kind kept by this clinic.

We understand the anxiety this may cause people and are responding to specific concerns to the best of our ability. For those clients or family members who wish to contact the university, a dedicated phone line, email address and website containing further information have been established.

Call: local 519-661-3445 or toll-free (Canada and U.S.) 1-855-661-3445

Email: inquiries@uwo.ca

Website: http://communications.uwo.ca/speechandhearingclinics/ 

Western is taking steps to ensure nothing like this happens again. We will conduct a complete review of this incident, reiterating patient privacy protocols with all of our health care professionals and their staff, as well as determine what additional steps we can take to improve our existing protocols, designed to ensure each client’s privacy in our clinics.