A Halifax family's relief at their infant son's recovery from a life-threatening medical crisis turned into frustration and concern when the hospital that treated him couldn't locate his critical medical records for over two months.
Tegan Hutz praised the care her son, Kayden Tolmie, received at IWK Health Centre after he suffered sudden-onset continuous seizures requiring intensive care treatment. But when she sought records documenting his hospital stay—including results from lumbar punctures, diagnostic tests, and an MRI—staff couldn't find them anywhere.
In fact, hospital personnel initially couldn't even confirm that Kayden had been treated at the facility.
"I was shocked," Hutz said. "I was confused."
The missing records created a cascade of problems. Without access to his IWK files, Kayden's family doctor and pediatrician couldn't review his case history, leaving the infant stuck on anti-seizure medication that was meant to be temporary.
A Temporary Fix That Became Long-Term
"The medication he's on is only supposed to be temporary, not long term," Hutz explained. "It's very tough on his body and makes him extremely drowsy."
When Hutz finally connected with hospital staff about the missing documentation, she received a concerning explanation: the IWK had recently transitioned to a new electronic medical record system called One Person One Record in December, and the switch was likely responsible for the records disappearing into the digital void.
The rollout of Nova Scotia's new provincial system has faced scrutiny since its introduction. Both healthcare staff and patients have raised red flags about workflow disruptions and impacts on patient care quality.
Hospital Downplays the Problem
The IWK declined to make a spokesperson available for an interview, instead issuing a written statement through LeeAnn Larocque, vice-president of clinical care and chief nurse executive.
"When a large-scale change is implemented, there can be instances where information does not appear in a timely manner in the location clinicians or patients anticipate," Larocque said. "When this occurs, it is taken very seriously and reviewed promptly."
The hospital stated it has found no evidence of systematic permanent loss of entire patient records, and promised to continue monitoring system performance and addressing integration challenges with provincial partners.
Larocque advised patients concerned about missing test results or delayed follow-up communication to contact their doctor, the treating clinic, or the IWK's feedback service.
For families like Hutz's, the incident raises troubling questions about data security and care continuity during major healthcare system overhauls—especially when vulnerable patients like infants hang in the balance.
This story is based on reporting from CBC Health. The original article was published by Michael Gorman at CBC News. For more information, visit CBC News.