Your Privacy is important to us!
Alexandra Marine and General Hospital is committed to keeping your personal health information safe and confidential. Your privacy is very important to us. We are continuously monitoring policies and procedures to further protect the privacy of your information.
- What Type of Information Do We Collect About You?
- Personal Health information Protection Act
- How is Your Information Used?
- Do We Share Your Information With Anyone?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Alexandra Hospital Privacy Policy
Phone: 519-524-8689 x 5413 Email: mailto:privacyofficer@amgh.ca
What Type of Information Do We Collect About You?
To provide you with quality health care, we collect both personal and health information from you. Your legal name, date of birth, address, Health Card Number and extended health insurance numbers are examples of personal information. Your health history, the records of your visits to the hospital and what health care we provide to you during those visits are examples of your health information.
Personal Health information Protection Act (PHIPA)
PHIPA is a provincial legislation that protects personal information, including health information. It sets out ten principles that organizations, individuals, associations, partnerships and trade unions must follow when collecting, using and disclosing personal information in the course of a commercial activity.
PHIPA is formulated on the basis of the Canadian National Standard code commonly known as the ten fair information principles. Alexandra Marine and General Hospital has implemented a privacy program based on these principles, which are listed below:
The 10 Privacy Principles of PHIPA
- Accountability
- Accuracy
- Challenging Compliance
- Consent
- Identifying Purposes
- Individual Access
- Limiting Collection
- Limiting Use, Disclosure and Retention
- Openness
- Safeguards
Accountability
An organization is responsible for personal information under its control and shall designate an individual or individuals who are accountable for the organization's compliance with the following principles.
Accuracy
Personal information shall be as accurate, complete and up-to-date as is necessary for the purpose for which it is used.
Challenging Compliance
An individual shall be able to address a challenge concerning compliance with the above principles to the designate individuals accountable for the organization's compliance.
Consent
The knowledge and consent of an individual are required for the collection, use, or disclosure of personal information, except where appropriate.
Identifying Purposes
The purposes for which personal information is collected shall be identified by the organization at or before the time the information is collected.
Individual Access
Upon request, an individual shall be informed of the existence, use, and disclose of his or her personal information, and shall be given access to that information. An individual shall be able to challenge the accuracy and completeness of the information and have it amended as appropriate.
Limiting Collection
The collection of personal information shall be limited to that which is necessary for the purposes identified by the organization. Information shall be collect by fair and lawful means.
Limiting Use, Disclosure and Retention
Personal information shall not be used or disclosed for purposes other than those for which it was collected, except with the consent of the individual or as required by law. Persona information shall be retained only as long as necessary for the fulfillment of those purposes.
Openness
An organization shall make readily available to individuals specific information about its policies and practices relating to the management of personal information.
Safeguards
Personal information shall be protected by security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information.
How is Your Information Used?
The information we collect from you is used:
- To provide you with quality health care and follow up care in the community;
- To carry out quality assurance to make us better;
- For patient satisfaction surveys to see how we are doing;
- To comply with legal and regulatory requirements;
- For research to make the Alexandra Hospital the best we can be and to help develop new treatments and technologies for the future; and
- For education to keep current health care practitioners up to date and to train new health care practitioners for the future.
Do We Share Your Information With Anyone?
Alexandra Marine and General Hospital does share your personal and health information with health care providers at other hospitals, health care agencies, nursing homes, etc., who become part of your health care team for the purpose of your continuing care. Your information is shared with agencies authorized by law, for example, OHIP, health insurance companies and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.