Privacy Statement
We are committed to respecting and protecting your privacy. This statement outlines our policies and procedures with respect to collecting, using and disclosing your personal health information.
Collection of Your Personal Health Information
We collect your personal health information only directly from you, except: a) when you have provided consent to obtain such information from others (e.g., reports of previous assessments or other services); and b) where the laws requires or allows us to collect or share information without your consent as outlined in our Limits of Confidentiality statement, as well as in an emergency situation.
We collect only that information from you that we believe is reasonably necessary to provide you with services. If we collect information for any other reason, (e.g., research), it will be done so only with your knowledge and consent. If you decide that you do not want to provide this information not needed for your service, you are completely free to refuse. There will be no impact on the services you receive.
Use of Your Personal Health Information
Your personal health information is used to provide you with service, which includes information for assessment, case formulation, diagnosis and treatment. This also includes using the information for service planning, service monitoring and billing purposes.
All staff are trained in privacy policies and procedures, including prevention of loss of information and prevention of unauthorized access. All staff member are allowed to have access to information about you on a need-to know basis. A staff person who knows you personally is required to let us know this, and is not allowed to have access to your record unless there is an emergency or unless you give consent.
Your record may be accessed for quality assurance purposes, with your permission. However, we will not allow any information that identifies you to be taken out of our premises for this purpose. All persons involved in such activities are required by law to maintain the confidentiality of the accessed information.
Disclosure of Your Personal Health Information
With only a few exceptions, which have been reviewed and discussed with you in the Limits of Confidentiality statement, your personal health information will not be disclosed to persons outside this office without your express consent. If there are other limits of confidentiality in your situation, we will identify and discuss them with you before proceeding with your service.
When consenting to the disclosure of your personal health information, you may restrict us from sharing all or any part of your personal information. However, if, in our opinion, the information is reasonably necessary for another health service provider or agency to provide appropriate service, we are required by law to inform the other provider/agency that you have refused consent to provide some needed information.
Although the law allows, under strict conditions, access to personally identifiable health information for research purposes, it is our policy not to allow external researchers access to any personal health information.
Your Right of Access to your Personal Health Information Record
With only a few exceptions, you have the right to access your personal health information, and to request copies of the information. Your personal health record will be maintained by this office for a minimum of 10 years after your last contact, and in the case of children/adolescents, for a minimum of 10 years from when the child/adolescent turned 18 years of age or from the year of last contact. I the event we are no longer able to provide services, e.g., death or disability, your personal health record will be placed under the supervision of a regulated member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario to allow you ongoing access up until the time of destruction as is specified above.
If you believe the information in your record is not accurate, you may make a written request to correct your record. If we do not agree with the correction you request, you may file a notice of disagreement into your record.