Privacy Of Personal Health Information Policy (Page 2 of 4) in pdf

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Express Consent

Explicit, informed and voluntary consent of clients/SDMs is required if the purpose for collection, use and

disclosure is not described in the notice statement or if the collection, use and disclosure of personal health

information is for purposes other than for the provision of health care.

Exception to Consent for Collection, Use and Disclosure

(Reference: Personal Health Information Protection Act)

In certain circumstances personal health information can be collected, used or disclosed without the

knowledge and consent of the individual. For example:

In compliance with a court order, through the execution of a search warrant;

In compliance with a duly authorized request from the coroner's office;

When fulfilling an obligation to Report a health professional who has sexually abused a client;

When fulfilling an obligation to inform a potential victim of violence of a client’s intention to

inflict harm;

When fulfilling a legal obligation to report suspected child abuse;

When fulfilling an obligation to inform an appropriate family member, health care professional

or police, if necessary, of a client’s intention to end his/her life;

When following the advice of legal counsel acting on behalf of Gerard Philipps-Gange.

Disclosure to Third Parties

If the third party to which patient data are disclosed is not a recognized health information custodian (i.e., a

health professional, a healthcare organization, OHIP, CIHI), then before patient data are disclosed, the third

party must sign an agreement with Gerard Philipps-Gange to hold the patient data in confidence, and use it

only for the agreed upon purpose.

LIMITING COLLECTION

When practical, patient data are to be collected directly from the patient/SDM. If necessary with the consent

of the patient/SDM, data can be collected from secondary sources such as relatives or friends, as appropriate.

LIMITING USE. DISCLOSURE AND RETENTION

Personal Health Information will 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. Gerard Philipps-Gange is

responsible for ensuring that records are stored safely and confidentially for no longer than the period of time

necessary to satisfy the identified purposes of the records and to meet legal requirements.

Preservation of Records

As a health information custodian, Gerard Philipps-Gange must ensure that, during the retention period of

records, client data remains usable and unaltered, despite aging record media. This may require storing

records in a controlled environment and may require transferring records to fresh and/or different media

from time to time. Such transfers will be done only after confidentiality is assured.

SAFEGUARDS FOR PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION

Authorized Users

Client data will be used only in a manner consistent with the identified purposes and will be used only by

those persons who are fulfilling those purposes.

Access Controls

Access to client data (whether in written, verbal or digital form) is to be strictly controlled.

Privacy Of Personal Health Information Policy Page 2