Protecting Your Privacy
Our Privacy Statement
The Waterloo Wellington CCAC protects the privacy of your personal health information based on the requirements of the Ontario Personal Health Information Protection Act 2004.
We inform you of the personal health information that we collect, and safeguards we have to protect your personal information to the levels required by the legislation.
What is personal health information?
Personal Health Information includes things like your name, address, gender, age, and health card number. It also includes your health status and care needs.
Your Privacy Rights Our Privacy Principles
Helpful Links
Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner
Personal Health Information and Protection Act, 2004
Contact Us
If you have any questions regarding our privacy policies, access to your record, correction of information, or if you have a privacy complaint, you may contact our Chief Privacy Officer at:
519 748 2222 (Waterloo Region)
or
519 823 2550 (Guelph and Wellington County)
or
1 888 883 3313 Toll Free
Our mailing address is:
Waterloo Wellington Community Care Access Centre
141 Weber Street South
Waterloo ON N2J 2A9
Your Privacy Rights
• Your right to access your information
You have the right to access the personal health information contained in your record. You also have the right to have this information corrected in your record. You also have the right to change or remove your consent.
• Your right to voice your concerns
If you believe any of your privacy rights have been violated in any way and the Chief Privacy Officer cannot resolve your concerns, you may contact the Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner at 416-326-3333 or 1-800-387-0073 or via their website: www.ipc.on.ca
• To know how we collect your information
The knowledge and consent of the individual are required for the collection, use or disclosure of personal information, except where defined by law, Waterloo Wellington Community Care Access Centre will identify the purposes for which it collects personal information and will obtain consent prior to the time the information is collected.
• To know how we use your information
The Waterloo Wellington Community Care Access Centre collects, uses and shares, with other health care providers involved in your care, personal and health information for the provision of in-home health and support services, in-school support services and to facilitate placement in a long-term care home.
We may use your information to prepare statistical reports. Statistical reports that are shared externally by the Waterloo Wellington Community Care Access Centre do not contain any client or staff information that could be used to identify the individual.
Our Privacy Principles
Community Care Access Centre believes in the basic right of individuals to their privacy. We use 10 internationally accepted principles to guide us in safeguarding personal health information.
1. Accountability:
The Waterloo Wellington Community Care Access Centre has assigned an individual as the Chief Privacy Officer and has privacy policies and procedures in place.
2. Identifying Purposes:
The Waterloo Wellington Community Care Access Centre ensures that individuals know the purpose for which personal information is required prior to collection, use or disclosure of the information.
3. Consent:
Informed consent is obtained prior to the collection, use or disclosure of information.
4. Limiting Collection:
The collection of personal information shall be limited to that which is necessary for the purposes identified by the Waterloo Wellington Community Care Access Centre. Information shall be collected by fair and lawful means.
5. Limiting Use, Disclosure and Retention:
Personal information shall not be used or disclosed other than those purposes for which it was collected without the consent of the individual or as required by law. Personal information shall be retained only as long as necessary for the purpose.
6. Accuracy:
The Waterloo Wellington Community Care Access Centre will ensure that personal information is as accurate, complete and up-to-date as is necessary for the purposes for which it is to be used. Individuals have the right to have inaccurate information corrected.
7. Safeguards:
Appropriate security controls for technology and staff are in place and maintained to ensure there is no unauthorized use or disclosure of personal information.
8. Openness:
The Waterloo Wellington Community Care Access Centre will readily make available to individuals the policies and procedures that support our commitment to privacy.
9. Individual Access:
The Waterloo Wellington Community Care Access Centre has a process for individuals, upon request, to access their personal information, and to challenge its accuracy.
10. Challenging Compliance:
An individual may challenge compliance to these principles through the Chief Privacy Officer at the CCAC or through the Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner.
December 28, 2006