At the Madawaska Valley Family Health Team (MVFHT), your primary care providers are bound by law and ethics to protect your privacy and the confidentiality of your personal health information. In Ontario, your health information is protected by the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA). It sets out the rules that healthcare providers must follow when collecting, using and sharing your health information. In addition, it outlines your rights to confidentiality and access of your information, and allows healthcare providers to share your health information with other providers (such as the hospital or specialists) when it is used to provide care to you.
SHARING YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION WITH OTHERS
At the MVFHT, we collect personal health information from you or from the individual acting on your behalf. The personal information we collect may include, your date of birth, health card number, address, health history, etc.
We may use or disclose your personal health information to:
- Provide health care to you
- Collect payment for your treatment and care (OHIP, WSIB, private insurance company)
- Plan, administer and manage our internal operations
- Conduct risk management and quality improvement activities
- Ensure you are up to date with preventative care procedures applicable to your care
- Comply with legal and regulatory requirements
- Fulfill other purposes permitted or required by law
- Educate our staff and teach students
Your information is only shared with people that you have expressed your consent to do so. This means that your family members, employer, or friends, do not have automatic access to your information. If you would like us to share your information with someone, you must inform us.
In the case of an individual who cannot make their own healthcare decisions, a substitute decision maker will be appointed. For children, this is usually their parent(s). Once a child is able to make their own medical decisions their parents do not have access to their information unless their child gives us consent.
If you have any questions regarding your privacy and health information, please contact your primary care provider’s office
Protecting Your Health Information
MVFHT takes all reasonable steps to protect your personal health information from unauthorized collection, use and disclosure. Physical, administrative and technical safeguards are in place to protect your information.
How to Access Your Information:
You have a right to access and/or request to see your health information. This can be done by calling your primary health care provider’s office. Please call in advance to allow our staff some time to complete your request. In some cases, there may be a fee associated with providing you a copy of your health information. Please make sure that your health information is accurate and up-to-date and let our offices know if any information has changed.
