Alberta Record

· Order in Council / Alberta Electronic Health Record Amendment Regulation · in-force

Alberta electronic health record amendment regulation 2025

This Order in Council amends the Alberta Electronic Health Record Regulation, establishing new eligibility requirements and conditions for accessing the Alberta Electronic Health Record for authorized custodians, the Office of the Chief Me…

Moderate impactCentralization of powerInstitutional independenceHealth-care bodiesThe public, directly

What changed

  • Repeals and replaces sections 1, 2, and 3 of the Alberta Electronic Health Record Regulation.
  • Establishes new eligibility requirements for custodians to be designated as "authorized custodians" for accessing the Alberta Electronic Health Record (EHR).
  • Grants the Department discretion to deny authorized custodian designation or EHR access to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, even if all stated eligibility criteria are met, citing public interest or risk.
  • Creates a new framework for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to access the Alberta EHR for fatality investigations.
  • Establishes a new framework for out-of-province health service providers to access the Alberta EHR for continuing treatment of Alberta residents.
  • Declares a Minister-developed "Schedule of Communities Outside of Alberta Eligible for Alberta Electronic Health Record Access" to be in force as part of the Regulation.

Why it matters

  • The Department gains increased discretion over who can access the Alberta Electronic Health Record, even when applicants meet all specified criteria.
  • The Minister is granted authority to unilaterally define which out-of-province communities are eligible for EHR access through a schedule, without requiring further regulatory amendment.
  • The changes formalize and centralize the Department's authority in granting or denying access to sensitive health information.
  • The introduction of new access frameworks for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and out-of-province providers expands the scope of EHR access under specific conditions.

Rights affected

  • Privacy — Control over personal information held by governments and institutions.

Other governance concerns

  • Increased departmental discretion in granting or denying access to health information.
  • Potential for inconsistent application of access rules due to discretionary clauses.
  • Ministerial authority to define eligible communities for out-of-province access without further legislative or regulatory process.
  • Impact on the independence of health service providers and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in accessing necessary health data.
  • Privacy implications for individuals whose health information is accessed under new frameworks.

Primary sources (1)

Secondary sources (1)