Emergency Neuro Image Transfer System (ENITS) PIA Summary

Date of PIA Report:

Date PIA Summary Last Reviewed and Updated: December 2, 2025 (Rebranding)

The following is a summary of the above-referenced privacy impact assessment (PIA), including a brief background, key findings, and risks and recommendations as applicable. See our Privacy Contact page to find information on how to contact the Ontario Health Privacy Office should you have any questions.

Background

The Emergency Neuro Image Transfer System (ENITS) is a provincial solution enabling the transfer of digital neuro-images from acute care hospitals to a centralized repository to allow neuro specialists to conduct remote consultations for patients with suspected brain and spinal injuries or illnesses at acute care hospitals.

ENITS is intended to improve access to and reduce wait times for the diagnosis and treatment of neurosurgical/neurospinal conditions. Transfer of images enables neuro specialists to diagnose and determine the appropriate course of treatment for patients.

eHealth Ontario provides ENITS by leveraging two partners; London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and CritiCall, a 24-hour-a-day emergency consultation and referral service for hospital-based physicians in Ontario caring for critically ill or injured patients. LHSC hosts ENITS, provides access to consulting neuro specialists and provides day-to-day support. CritiCall is funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) and managed by Hamilton Health Sciences Centre (HHSC).

Key Findings

The ENITS Privacy Impact Assessment assesses eHealth Ontario’s roles and responsibilities pertaining to its legislative authority in delivering ENITS and the related business processes.

The Privacy Impact Assessment confirms that eHealth Ontario, as a health information network provider, has the authority under section 6(2) of O. Reg. 329/04 to enable two or more health information custodians to disclose personal health information to one another electronically. It also has Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA) authority for managing and operating ENITS.

The Privacy Impact Assessment recommends measures that will ensure eHealth Ontario is in compliance with applicable legislation, as well as its policies, procedures and best practices.

Risks and Recommendations

The Privacy Impact Assessment provides the following recommendations:

1. eHealth Ontario to enter into agreements with sites participating in ENITS.
2. eHealth Ontario and LHSC to develop policy and procedures for ENITS.
3. eHealth Ontario to develop plain language description of ENITS and make it publicly available.

eHealth Ontario is currently in the process of implementing each of these recommendations.