Your privacy is protected
We take steps to protect your personal 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 protects your privacy and only uses your personal information for the purposes you have consented to.
The collection of personal health information
Protecting patient privacy is not only the law, but it is an essential part of Bruyère’s commitment to treating our patients with dignity, compassion and social responsibility. Protecting your personal health information is about quality of care and treating others the way we want to be treated.
At Bruyère, 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 photograph (for identification purposes), name, date of birth, address, health history, records of your visits and care you received at Bruyère.
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.
Uses and disclosures of personal health information
Bruyère may use and disclose your personal health information to:
- Treat and care for you;
- Conduct risk management activities;
- Teach;
- Conduct research;
- Compile statistics;
- Comply with legal and regulatory requirements;
- Plan, administer and manage internal operations;
- Obtain payment for your treatment and care (from OHIP, WSIB, your private insurer or others);
- Conduct quality improvement activities (such as conducting patient satisfaction surveys, including the Hospital to Home Patient Experience Program);
- Fulfill other purposes permitted or required by law;
- Facilitate the adoption of regional and provincial electronic health records. As these systems are put into place to improve safety and quality of care, your personal health information will be stored and shared securely on health information databases accessible only by authorized health care providers.
We also disclose your contact information to our Foundation, so that they may conduct fundraising to improve our health care facilities, services and programs. Unless you tell us differently, we may let visitors or callers know your location in the hospital and your general health status.
Your privacy rights
You may access and correct your personal health records, or withdraw your consent for some of the above uses and disclosures by contacting us (subject to legal exceptions, such as where disclosures are required by law).
For more information or to raise a concern about our practices, contact:
Privacy and access to information officer
43 Bruyère St.Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5C8
Email: privacy@bruyere.org
Tel.: 613-562-6262, ext. 1687
bruyere.org
You have the right to complain to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario if you think we have violated your rights by contacting:
Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
2 Bloor St. East, Suite 1400 Toronto, Ontario M4W 1A8
Email: info@ipc.on.ca
Tel.: 416-326-3333
Toll Free: 1-800-387-0073
ipc.on.ca