Privacy Policy

Privacy of personal information is an important principle to Lifemark NeuroLogic Physiotherapy. We are committed to collecting, using and disclosing personal information responsibly and only to the extent necessary for the goods and services we provide. We also try to be open and transparent as to how we handle personal information. This document describes our privacy policies.

WHO WE ARE

Our organization, Lifemark NeuroLogic Physiotherapy, includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, administrative staff, and (at times) students. We use a number of consultants and agencies that may, in the course of their duties, have limited access to personal information we hold. These include physicians, WSIB, Blue Cross and or/ Veteran Affairs, and various insurance companies. We restrict their access to any personal information we hold as much as is reasonably possible. We also have their assurance that they follow appropriate privacy principles.

WE COLLECT PERSONAL INFORMATION:

Like all rehabilitation clinics, we collect, use and disclose personal information in order to serve our clients as per the College of Physiotherapy Guidelines. Examples of the type of personal information we collect for those purposes include the following:

1. Names, address, date of birth

2. Health history

3. Relevant family history

4. Other information needed to fully assess and treat and invoice our client.

PROTECTING PERSONAL INFORMATION

We understand the importance of protecting personal information. For that reason, we have taken the following steps:

  • Paper information is either under supervision or secured in a locked area.

  • Electronic hardware is either under supervision or secured in a locked or restricted area at all times. In addition, passwords are used on computers. All of our cell phones are digital, which signals are more difficult to intercept.

  • Paper information is transmitted through sealed, addressed envelopes or boxes by reputable companies.

  • Electronic information is transmitted either through a direct line or is anonymized or encrypted.

  • Staff is trained to collect, use and disclose personal information only as necessary to fulfill their duties and in accordance with our privacy policy.

  • External consultants and agencies with access to personal information must enter into privacy agreements with us.

HEALTH INFORMATION CUSTODIAN

Lifemark Neurologic Physiotherapy is the Health Information Custodian and not your individual therapist. We are thus responsible for the retention and destruction of your personal information records.

RETENTION AND DESTRUCTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

We need to retain personal information for some time to ensure that we can answer any questions you might have about the services provided and for our own accountability to external regulatory bodies. However, we do not want to keep personal information too long in order to protect your privacy. We keep our client files for about 10 years or, for children, 10 years after turning 18 years of age.

We destroy paper files containing personal information by cross-shredding. We destroy electronic information by deleting it and, when the hardware is discarded, we ensure that the hard drive is re-formatted.

YOU CAN LOOK AT YOUR INFORMATION

You have the right to see what personal information we hold about you. We will also try to help you understand any information you do not understand.

YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED IF A PRIVACY BREACH OCCURS

We will inform you if a privacy breach occurs and the confidentiality of your personal health information has been breached.

DO YOU HAVE A CONCERN?

Our Health Information Officer, Susan Smith, can be reached at 613-721-2738 to address any questions or concerns you might have.

For more general inquiries, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada oversees the administration of the privacy legislation in the private sector. The Commissioner also acts as a kind of ombudsman for privacy disputes. The Privacy Commissioner can be reached at:

 

112 KENT STREET | OTTAWA, ONTARIO | K1A 1H3

PHONE (613) 995-8210 | TOLL-FREE 1-800-282-1376 | FAX (613) 947-6850 |

TTY (613) 992-9190

www.privcom.gc.ca

 

 

 

 

Updated: May 2018