Your privacy is important to us. The Health Unit is committed to respecting your privacy and protecting your personal health information, as per the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), 2004.
Collection, use and disclosure of personal health information
Information about your health is collected in a personal health record every time you:
- visit a health care provider
- have a medical test done
- receive care in your 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
- Everyone who performs services for us protects your privacy and only uses your personal health information in the way you have agreed to.
Freedom of Information Requests under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) or Requests for Personal Health Records
You 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 your information, subject to legal exceptions.
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.
You have the right to make a complaint to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario if you are concerned with how we have handled your personal health information.
The Commissioner can be reached at:
The Information and Privacy Commission of Ontario
2 Bloor Street East, Suite 1400
Toronto ON M4W 1A8
1-800-387-0073
Fax: 1-416-325-9195
www.ipc.on.ca