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The protection of our clients' personal
information has always been of the utmost importance to our
clinic. The various professional associations take very seriously
their obligations under the legislation. On January 1, 2004,
new laws came into effect in Canada, which govern the protection
of personal information in all commercial activities. Personal
information includes an individual's name, address and telephone
number, gender, and any information regarding their treatment
at our clinic.
Canada's Privacy Legislation is based on
ten privacy principles. The ten principles that businesses
must follow are:
- Accountability
- Identifying purposes
- Consent
- Limiting collection
- Limiting use, disclosure and retention
- Accuracy
- Safeguards
- Openness
- Individual access
- Challenging compliance
Personal information is recorded in a client's
chart. Clients are required to sign a "Confidential Patient
Information" form authorizing our clinic to release reports
to their family doctor and other health professionals as
necessary. We also obtain written authorization to release
information to Section B (Motor Vehicle Insurance) companies.
The original copies of these forms are filed on a client's
chart. If a client requests that information be forwarded
to any other agency, they must sign a Medical Release Form
authorizing the clinic to forward the pertinent information.
The original copy of this Medical Release Form is held on
the client's chart.
Whe billing private insurance companies
we also use clients' personal information. If a client wishes,
they can withdraw their consent at any time. However, should
a client do so, we will not be able to bill these companies
directly.
A client may inform us at any time if they
wish to withdraw authorization to forward any of their reports.
A client may request their entire patient
file at any time with a signed request form.
Complaints, inquiries, and requests for
access to your personal information can be made to our Clinic
Privacy Officer, June Doyle, at (902) 435-3391, or in writing
to:
Cole Harbour Integrated Health Services
51 Forest Hills Parkway
Box 16
Dartmouth, NS
B2W 6C6
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