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Privacy Policy

Privacy Statement

 

The primary care providers and staff at Rapids Family Health Team (RFHT) are bound by law and ethics to safeguard your privacy and the confidentiality of your personal information. The appropriate collection, use and disclosure of patients’ personal health information is fundamental to our day-to-day operations and patient care.  We strive to provide our patients with excellent medical care and service. Rapids Family Health Team employees and those who act on behalf of the team, are accountable for maintaining confidentiality and privacy of all information collected, accessed or disclosed during and after their employment or professional contact.

In order to provide health services to you and plan your care, Rapids Family Health Team needs to collect, use and disclose personal health information about you. You have a right to know how we collect, use and disclose your personal information. You have a right to expect that we will use all reasonable means to keep your personal health information accurate, confidential and secure.
 

Collection of personal health information

We collect personal health information about you directly from you or from the person acting on your behalf. The personal health information that we collect may include, for example, your name, date of birth, address, health history, records of your visits to other care providers, and the care that you received during those visits. Occasionally, we collect personal health information about you from other sources if we have obtained your consent to do so or if the law permits.

We collect, use and disclose personal health information to:

  • treat and care for you;
  • get payment for your treatment and care (from OHIP, WSIB, your private insurer or others);
  • plan, administer and manage our internal operations;
  • conduct risk management and quality improvement activities;
  • teach;
  • conduct research;
  • compile statistics;
  • comply with legal and regulatory requirements and
  • fulfill other purposes permitted or required by law.

 

Your request for care implies consent for our collection, use and disclosure of your personal information for purposes related to your care as noted above.  All other purposes would require your express consent.

You have the right at any time to withhold or withdraw your consent to disclose personal health information. You will be required to sign a Withdrawal of Consent form which will be retained in your medical records.

Individuals who successfully demonstrate the inaccuracy or incompleteness of their personal health information may request that we amend their information. In some cases instead of making a correction, individuals may ask to amend a statement of disagreement to their file.

Please Note: In certain situations, Rapids Family Health Team may not be able to provide access to all the personal health information we hold about an individual. Exceptions to the right of access requirement will be in accordance with law. Examples may include information that could reasonably be expected to result in a risk of serious harm or the information is subject to legal privilege.  You do this by completing a Request to Access or Correct Personal Health Information form which will be retained in your medical records.

 

Important information

We take steps to protect your personal health information from theft, loss and unauthorized access, copying, modification, use, disclosure and disposal. We conduct audits and complete investigations to monitor and manage our privacy compliance. We take steps to ensure that everyone who performs services for us protect your privacy and only use your personal health information for the purposes you have consented to.

Patients and/or community members requesting more information regarding our Rapids Family Health Team Privacy Policy and Commitment may request the following documents from our clinic or find them below:
 

For a complete review of Rapids Family Health Team Privacy Policy, or to raise a concern, please contact our Privacy Officer at 519-339-8949.

(rev 03/27/2023)