Privacy Policy
Effective Date: January 1, 2024
We are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your personal health information in accordance with the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA). This policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal health information.
2. Definition of Personal Health Information
Personal health information includes any information about an individual’s physical or mental health, health care history, or any identifying information that relates to their health care.
3. Collection of Personal Health Information
We collect personal health information from you in various ways, including:
- Patient registration forms
- Medical history questionnaires
- Direct interactions during appointments or consultations
- Electronic health records
4. Use and Disclosure of Personal Health Information
Your personal health information may be used for the following purposes:
- To provide you with medical care and treatment
- To communicate with other healthcare providers involved in your care
- For billing and payment purposesFor quality assurance and improvement activities
- For research, with your consent
- We will not disclose your personal health information to third parties without your consent, except where required by law.
5. Consent
We obtain your consent to collect, use, and disclose your personal health information. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time, subject to legal and contractual obligations.
6. Safeguards
We implement a variety of safeguards to protect your personal health information, including:
- Physical safeguards (physical copies are held securely in the clinic or destroyed on the premises when no longer needed)
- Administrative safeguards (staff training on privacy practices; access is limited to necessary staff as required for scheduling or assisting the clinician)
- Technical safeguards (encryption and secure electronic systems)
7. Access and Correction
You have the right to access your personal health information held by us and request corrections if you believe there is an error. To make a request, please contact us at [insert contact information].
8. Retention and Disposal
We retain personal health information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected and to meet legal and regulatory requirements. When personal health information is no longer needed, we securely dispose of it.
9. Complaints
If you have concerns about our privacy practices or wish to make a complaint, please contact our Privacy Officer at [insert contact information]. We will investigate your complaint and respond to you promptly.
10. Contact Information
For questions or further information regarding our privacy practices, please contact:
Kim Smith
289.235.7700
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on our website, and we encourage you to review it periodically.