Canadian Health Information Management Association Practice Exam

In a regional health system, who typically conducts a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA)?

1. CEO

2. CPO

3. HIM

4. Provincial privacy commissioner

The correct answer is: CPO

The Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) is typically responsible for conducting a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) in a regional health system. This role is specifically designed to oversee the organization's compliance with privacy laws and regulations, ensuring that personal health information is managed appropriately. The CPO plays a critical part in identifying potential risks to privacy, assessing how these risks can impact individuals, and determining the necessary measures to mitigate those risks. By conducting the PIA, the CPO ensures that privacy considerations are integrated into project planning and implementation—from the design stage onward. The other roles mentioned have different focuses. For example, the CEO may have overall responsibility for the organization but is not typically involved in the granular details of privacy assessments. Health Information Management (HIM) professionals are more focused on the management of health records and information rather than the specific legal and compliance aspects assessed in a PIA. The Provincial Privacy Commissioner would have oversight powers but would not conduct PIAs for individual health organizations.