Definition of personal health information
Personal Health Information is about the status and history of your health, your medication, your health card number, your need and eligibility for government-provided healthcare services, your name, and you contact information.
Your Privacy Rights
You have the right to know how we collect your information.
We collect, use, and share personal and health information with other health-care providers who are involved providing healthcare, homecare, and support services.
Our services will be provided only with your direct consent or, sometimes, your implied consent. Implied consent means that when you receive health care from us, your have given us permission to collect, use, and share your health information with the other health-care providers whom we work with to provide your care.
Parties with whom we share your information include:
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Agencies who fund the care that we provide
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Sub-contracted service providers for care, equipment, and supplies
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Other service providers that provide health care including hospitals, healthcare workers, and long-term care homes)
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Our authorized staff
Further, we use your information to:
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monitor the quality of services that you receive
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train and inform our staff to provide care
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develop care plan and related services
You can restrict or withdraw your permission by contacting our Care Coordinator who is assigned to you or our Privacy Officer.
You have the right to the accessibility of your information.
You can access your health information in our records and to have this update or correct this information. You can also change or remove your consent. To do so, please contact the our Privacy Officer.
You have the right to express your concerns.
If you believe your privacy rights have been encroached upon, please notify our Privacy Officer. If our Privacy Officer has not resolved your issues to your satisfaction, you can file a complaint with the Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario (IPC) at:
Phone: 416-326-3333 or 1-800-387-0073
Online: www.ipc.on.ca
Mail:
Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario
2 Bloor Street East, Suite 1400
Toronto, Ontario M4W 1A8
Our Privacy Principles
We adhere to these principles:
1. Accountability
We have designated a Privacy Officer and has implemented privacy policies and procedures.
2. Identifying Purposes
We identify and communicate to our clients the why personal information is required prior to collecting, using, or disclosing the information.
3. Consent
We seek consent, as required under legislation, for the collection, use, or disclosure of your health information.
4. Limiting Collection
We limit the collection of health information to what is necessary for the purposes of providing care through fair and legal means.
5. Limiting Use, Disclosure, and Retention
Personal health information will be used, retained, or disclosed only for the purposes as stated with the consent of the individual and as permitted by law. Information retention is limited to the period necessary for the purpose.
6. Accuracy
We ensure your health information is as accurate, complete, and up-to-date as is possible. If you feel that there is incorrect information, you have the right to request its correction.
7. Safeguards
Appropriate security controls are in place and maintained to prevent unauthorized use or disclosure of your health information.
8. Openness
We can make available to you the policies and procedures that ensure your information privacy.
9. Individual Access
You may request access to your personal health information and to validate its accuracy.
10. Challenging Compliance
You have the right to challenge our compliance to the protection of your information privacy through our Privacy Officer.
Correspondence
Any correspondence you have with us through written documents, e-mail, letters, facsimile, or other form of communication will be retained and the information in the communications may be used to respond to your inquiry.
Importantly, your identity and contact information are never sold, given, or otherwise disclosed to third parties, except as allowed by applicable laws.
We are not accountable for the loss of information or privacy you send to us through correspondence in any media before we receive and store such information. It is your accountability to send information to us using secure and media acceptable to you.
Requests for release of information
All requests for release of your health information can be made to Choice Healthcare Inc. by mail or fax. A copy of the consent form is available upon request at 613.800.8360 or by contacting our Privacy Officer.
If you need further information, please contact:
Privacy Officer
Choice Healthcare Inc.
1376 Bank Street, Suite 401
Ottawa, ON K1H 7Y3
Phone (613) 800.8360 ext. 103
Fax 888.680.0843