​

Protecting patient privacy is not only the law, but it is an essential part of the Tay River Health Centre Team's commitment to treating our patients with dignity, compassion and social responsibility. We take steps to protect your personal health information from theft, loss and unauthorized access, copying, modification, use disclosure and disposal.

​

We take steps to ensure that everyone who performs services for us protects your privacy and only uses your personal health information for purposes to which you consent, or otherwise as permitted or required by law.

​

 

Collection of Personal Information

​

We collect personal health information under the authority of the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 and other laws.

​

The personal health information that we collect may include, for example, your name, date of birth, address, health history, records of your visits to Tay River Health Centre and the care you received during those visits.

​

As a general rule, we collect personal health information from you directly or from someone authorized by law to act on your behalf. We may collect it from others with your consent; if the collection is necessary for the provision of health care and it is not possible to collect it from you accurately or in a timely way; or for certain approved research purposes; or as authorized by law or by the information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario.

​

 

Use of Personal Health Information

​

Access to your personal health is available to those who need it in order to provide care. This may include physicians, nurses, technologists, therapists and other health professionals. In addition to using your personal health information to treat and care for you, the Tay River Health Centre may use your personal health information to:

​

• Educate our agents

• Conduct research

• Compile statistics

• Comply with legal and regulatory requirements 

• Fulfill other purposes permitted or required by law

• Plan, administer and manage programs, services and internal operations

• Get payment for your treatment and care (from OHIP, WSIB, your private insurer or others)

• Conduct quality improvement activities (such as sending patient satisfaction surveys)

 

 

Disclosures of Personal Health Information

​

Unless you tell us otherwise, we may disclose your personal health information to:

​

• Care providers to determine suitability for services within the community or institutional providers, to provide for ongoing care, to improve/maintain the quality of your care and of those provided similar care, if the disclosure is necessary and consent cannot be obtained in a timely manner;

• Shared electronic health systems that have been established to support your care across multiple healthcare organizations. 

​

As permitted or required by the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004, we may also disclose your personal health information to:

​

• The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care e-health projects

• Approved research projects

• The Medical Officer of Health to report communicable diseases 

• The Workplace Safety & Insurance Board Law enforcement officers who present a warrant or subpoena, or to aid in an investigation

• Law enforcement officers who present a warrant or subpoena, or to aid in an investigation 

• A Children's Aid Society where child abuse is suspected; or the Children's Lawyer

• The Public Guardian and Trustee

• The Coroner

​

If you have questions or concerns, you also have the right to contact:

​

The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario

 

2 Bloor Street East Toronto, ON M4W 1A8

Telephone  |  (416) 326-3333 or 1-800-387-0073

Fax  |  (416) 325-9195

www.ipc.on.ca

​