Breadcrumb
Reporting Wrongdoing
We care about doing the right thing. And we know you do, too. We want everyone to work in a way that is true to our values and promotes the best possible care for our patients, clients and residents.
Safe reporting
Our Safe Reporting (Whistleblower) Program is available to anyone to report a known or suspected case of wrongdoing committed by a person or organization associated with Interior Health.
The Interior Health Safe Reporting Policy applies to everyone associated with Interior Health including employees, health professionals, volunteers, contractors and their employees, all researchers, and the public who are associated with Interior Health. Reports made in good faith can be made without fear of harassment or retaliation.
The Safe Reporting Office is staffed by the Internal Audit team which is an independent authority with a direct reporting relationship to the Board of Directors.
You may make a report to Safe Reporting if you are aware of serious actions that:
- Undermine the quality of care
- Are unlawful or not in compliance with any laws, regulations or contractual obligations to which Interior Health is subject
- Do not adhere to the policy objectives established by Interior Health for organizational behaviour including AU0100 Standards of Conduct for Interior Health Employees
- Represent the unauthorized use, misuse or waste of public funds or resources, which may be of a tangible or intangible nature
- Are of substantial and specific danger to the patient, public health, safety or the environment
- Do not adhere to appropriate Interior Health accounting policies or procedures, internal accounting controls, or auditing procedure
- May amount to fraud or other unethical conduct and/or corrupt activity.
It’s important to note that safe reporting does not replace other established processes to address concerns such as:
- Discussions with management or the Patient Care Quality Office for concerns about patient care from a patient, their next of kin or members of the public
- Reporting concerns about licensed care facilities
- Labour agreement violations covered by an applicable collective agreement
- Reports on safety hazards and unsafe conditions made in accordance with the provision of Section 3.10 of the WCB Occupational Health and Safety Regulations
- Misconduct related to behaviours identified in Interior Health’s AU1000 – Workplace Environment Policy which would be dealt with through that policy.
Read Interior Health’s Safe Reporting Policy for more information
While anonymous reporting is acceptable, we encourage you to provide your contact information (phone and email) as the assessment and investigation of reported concerns may be limited or impossible to pursue in cases where you are not available for further discussion.
Please note, we will always ask you if you would allow us to share your name and/or contact information with those involved in investigating your concern.
Phone: 1-855-432-7233
Email: safereporting@interiorhealth.ca
Mail:
Interior Health Safe Reporting
c/o Internal Audit
505 Doyle Ave
Kelowna, BC V1Y 0C5
Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA)
As of June 1, 2023, Interior Health current and former employees and health professionals may report a serious or systemic wrongdoing under B.C.’s Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA). Any current or former employee or health professional who reports through PIDA is provided protection from reprisal.
PIDA provides whistleblower protection from reprisal to current and former employees and medical staff who speak up about serious or systemic wrongdoing within their organization, and protects the identity of such employees if they report wrongdoing, make a reprisal complaint or ask for advice relating to PIDA.
Not all misconduct is “wrongdoing” under PIDA. PIDA specifically defines wrongdoing as:
- A serious act or omission that, if proven, would constitute an offence under an enactment of B.C. or Canada
- An act or omission that creates a substantial and specific danger to the life, health, or safety of persons, or to the environment, other than a danger that is inherent in the performance of an employee's duties or functions
- A serious misuse of public funds or public assets
- Gross or systemic mismanagement (i.e., mismanagement of funding, services, or people in a way that is highly inappropriate, irresponsible, or reckless, or mismanagement that is broad, longstanding, recurrent, or inherent to a public sector organization’s culture and practices)
- Knowingly directing or counselling a person to commit any of the wrongdoing described above, whether or not the person commits the act or omission
You can report wrongdoing that has happened in the past, is currently taking place, or is about to happen. Former employees and medical staff can only report wrongdoing that they discovered, or that occurred, while they were employed.
You can (and should) report wrongdoing even if you are not sure that it meets the definition of wrongdoing under PIDA. There is no penalty if a report does not qualify as wrongdoing.
Read Interior Health’s Public Interest Disclosure Act Policy for more information
While anonymous reporting is acceptable, we encourage you to provide your contact information (phone and email) as the assessment and investigation of reported concerns may be limited or impossible to pursue in cases where you are not available for further discussion.
Please note, we will always ask you if you would allow us to share your name and/or contact information with those involved in investigating your concern.
Email: pida@interiorhealth.ca
Mail:
Interior Health
PIDA c/o Designated Officers
505 Doyle Ave
Kelowna, BC V1Y 0C5
The PIDA Annual Report details disclosures of wrongdoing in respect of Interior Health under Section 38 (1) of the Public Interest Disclosure Act.
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