Why do we collect your personal information?
At the Hôpital Général de Hawkesbury & District General Hospital Inc. (HGH), we collect information about our patients so that you can be accurately identified each time you visit the hospital. Information about the type of tests or procedures you have during your visit is also collected and included in your chart.
Personal information that is collected is only available to hospital staff who are involved in your care either directly (such as physicians, nurses, technologists, technicians, therapists and other health professionals), or in a supporting role such as Health Records and Financial Services. Your personal information will only be used in compliance with the HGH's Privacy Policy.
Your personal information may also be used for the following purposes:
• To quickly and accurately identify your health record each time you visit the hospital.
• To provide you with the most effective and appropriate health services or treatment(s). Your visit to the hospital may include assessments of your health condition, surgical and medical procedures and other treatments. All of this information is recorded in your health record and made available to those involved in your care, including health care providers in Eastern Ontario, who are partners in your care. The HGH keeps the history of your health information, so that your caregivers have a complete summary of your health status.
• To comply with legal and regulatory requirements. For example, we collect your health insurance number because it is required for the processing and funding of healthcare services.
• To improve the quality and efficiency with which we provide healthcare services.
• To facilitate leading edge research at the HGH. Researchers working on studies approved by Ethics Committee of the HGH may have access to health information, provided that privacy and confidentiality issues have been addressed with you.
• To support the hospital's educational activities. Health information is available for teaching purposes, provided that measures are taken at the HGH to adequately protect your privacy and confidentiality.
Disclosure of Your Personal Information
When do we disclose your personal information?
In addition to your paper based health record, the HGH has an electronic health record. Other health care providers in Eastern Ontario, who are partners in your care, may access your electronic health record if they have signed an affiliation agreement with the HGH.
Personal information may be disclosed to the following persons or agencies: .
1. A care provider within your circle of care.
Your personal health information will be disclosed only to care providers involved in your personal care unless you have expressly withheld or withdrawn your consent to do so. Examples of care providers may include your attending doctor, nurses, family doctor, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, etc. Your personal health information will never be disclosed to any care providers who are not involved in your personal care without your consent to do so.
2. You, your legal representative, or next of kin.
Your personal information can be disclosed to someone that you have designated to act on your behalf in the event that you are unable to do so (for example: Power of Attorney for Personal Care, Substitute Decision-Maker).
3. A public authority (such as a lawyer, the Children's Aid Society, Children's Protection Agency or a Judge's court order), where it is legally required to do so such as an urgent threat to the safety of an individual.
4. A health regulatory agency (such as Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Health Canada), if health regulations or laws require health information. For example, hospitals are required to provide health information for billing, statistical reporting, and healthcare management purposes.
5. The Hôpital Général de Hawkesbury & District General Hospital Foundation is dedicated to supporting excellence in healthcare by raising funds for research, medical education, and the improvement of patient care. The Foundation keeps your information confidential, and does not share its contact list with any other agencies. You may choose not to be contacted by the Foundation by communicating with the Chief Privacy Officer at 613-632-1111, ext. 370, or by email at protection@hgh.ca.
6. Any third party (such as your private insurance company or lawyer) provided you have consented to the disclosure (by signing the Consent to Release of Information), or law requires the disclosure.
Protecting Your Personal Information
How do we protect your personal information?
• Your information is protected with an appropriate set of safeguards: physical (i.e. locked doors), technical (i.e. passwords and encryption) and administrative (i.e. policies). Staff, physicians and volunteers are also requested to sign confidentiality agreements.
• We keep your information up-to-date and accurate. At your request, your information can be revised as appropriate.
• We respect your right to access your own health information. To access your information, contact the hospital's Health Records service at 613-632-1111, ext. 303.