Personal Health Privacy Policy

Privacy is important to us. The Health Unit is committed to respecting privacy and protecting personal health information, as per the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), 2004.

Collection, Use and Disclosure of Personal Health Information

Health information is collected in a personal health record every time an individual:

• visits a health care provider;
• has a medical test done;
• receives care in their home, at a health unit, or in any other health care setting.

PHIPA sets out rules for the collection, use, and disclosure of personal health information. Personal health information is shared for a variety of reasons including care and treatment, health research and to manage our publicly funded health care system.

Protection of Personal Health Information

The Health Unit ensures that:

• Personal health information is not used by anyone that should not have access to it.
• Personal health information is kept private and stored and/or disposed of, in a secure way.
• All of our service providers are committed to safeguarding privacy and personal health information.

Freedom of Information Requests Under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) or Requests for Personal Health Information Records (PHIPA)

An individual may make a request for information; request access to and/or correct personal health records; or withdraw consent for some of the ways the Health Unit uses their information, subject to legal exceptions. The Health Unit has a time limit of thirty (30) days to respond after a request is received.

• Requests under MFIPPA can be made using the following form Request Form (FIPPA/MFIPPA) | Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.
• Requests under PHIPA can be made using the following form Consent for Correction of Personal Health Information.

Contact Us

For more information about our privacy practices, or to make a request for information, call our privacy contact person at 705-474-1400, toll-free at 1-800-563-2808 or send an email to privacy@healthunit.ca.

An individual has the right to make a complaint to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC) if they are concerned about how their personal health information was handled or how we have responded to their request for information. This can be done by filing an appeal online at www.ipc.on.ca or by contacting:

Information and Privacy Commission of Ontario
2 Bloor Street East, Suite 1400
Toronto ON M4W 1A8
Tel: 1-800-387-0073
Fax: 1-416-325-9195

Please see the IPC's online appeal submission frequently asked questions page for more information.