Privacy & Confidentiality
NSHN's Commitment to Privacy & Confidentiality
North Shore Health Network (NSHN) is committed to maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of personal information (PI) and personal health information (PHI) in our organization. Protecting the privacy of PI and PHI is an important component in the provision of quality services to our patients, residents, and clients.
Questions?
If you have questions about privacy, PHI, or PHIPA contact NSHN’s Privacy Officer:
Debra Brothers
(705) 356-2265 ext. 2620
PrivacyOffice@nshn.care
The Personal Health Information Act ("PHIPA", 2004) provides patients, residents, clients and/or their substitute decision-makers (SDMs) with certain rights.
The Right to KNOW
It is essential that the reasons behind the collection of PHI, its intended use, and who will have access to it are understood by the patient.
NSHN will also inform anyone impacted by lost, stolen, misused, or improperly accessed PHI.
The Right to REFUSE
Except in certain circumstances, patients or their SDMs can refuse or withdraw consent to the collection, use, or sharing of PHI.
The Right to ACCESS
With some exceptions (and subject to a fee), patients or their SDMs are entitled to a copy of records containing the patient’s PHI.
The Right to CORRECT
When incorrect PHI may impact care, a correction can be requested.
The Right to VOICE CONCERNS
If you have a concern about how NSHN has responded to a request for access or correction to PHI or a privacy breach, you can contact:
Information Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
2 Bloor Street E., Suite 1400
Toronto, ON
M4W 1A8
(416) 326-3333
1 (800) 387-0073
Fax (416) 325-9195
The Personal Health Information Act ("PHIPA", 2004) also provides NSHN with the authority to collect, use, and share your personal health information (PHI) in certain circumstances.
Collection
NSHN collects PHI that is necessary in order to provide patients with care and for other reasons specified in PHIPA or other laws as being a permitted use of PHI.
If PHI is needed for any other reason, a signed or verbal consent will be obtained before collection.
Use
In addition to providing healthcare, PHI may be used for:
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risk management and quality improvement activities
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to obtain payment for the care provided
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assisting the hospital foundations in conducting fundraising to improve our facilities, services, and programs
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evaluating and planning programs and services
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teaching purposes
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other purposes allowed or required by law
Sharing
In addition to sharing information with anyone who needs it to provide healthcare, PHI is visible to other hospitals in Northeastern Ontario through our shared electronic health record (EHR). These organizations must also follow PHIPA to access or use PHI in the EHR.
A basic level of PHI may also be provided to people requesting a status update on a patient.
Additionally, PHIPA allows the sharing of PHI for the improvement of the healthcare system and the health of the general public, as long as certain privacy requirements are satisfied.
This could include for the purposes of:
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research
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Public Health disclosure requirements
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planning, evaluating, and managing the health system
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helping to improve the provision of healthcare