We recognize the importance of privacy and the sensitivity of personal information.
WHY DO WE NEED PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION?
In providing psychological services we need to collect personal health information for various reasons including: compiling a history of your health, understanding your needs, and meeting regulatory requirements.
WHAT INFORMATION DO WE COLLECT?
We collect information such as, but not limited to: age, identification numbers, emergency contact information, family history, and your current and past physical and emotional health.
HOW DO WE COLLECT INFORMATION?
We collect information in the normal course of your assessment and treatment. Information regarding your treatment needs is generally gathered from yourself directly. There may be circumstances in which family members, a legal representative, or other health care providers also provide information to us in order to facilitate your assessment and treatment.
CONSENT
We ask individuals to specifically consent if we collect, use, or disclose their personal and/or health information. Permission may be expressed in writing or be implied and may be given to me verbally, electronically, or through an authorized representative. Individuals may withdraw permission to collect, use, and disclose their personal and/or health information at any time.
USE OF INFORMATION
We use information to provide psychological treatment and services to patients and to administer client accounting. Where services are paid by a third party (such as the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, motor vehicle insurers, Criminal Injuries Compensation Boards, or extended health benefit insurers), we may invoice these third parties directly. No information regarding the content of treatment is provided, only your name, identification, dates of treatment, and costs of services.
DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
Under certain circumstances, we may be required to disclose personal and/or health information. For example:
1. If we are concerned that you may seriously harm either yourself, or another person.
2. If we are given information that leads us to suspect that a child is being neglected or abused.
3. If you report that you have been sexually abused by another health practitioner and you tell us the name of that person.
4. If any clinical notes and records are ordered by a judge during a criminal or civil trial.
As a regulated member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario we are required to submit to quality assurance reviews. This may mean that we are interviewed by another psychologist representing the College of Psychologists. Administrative practices are discussed as part of this review and files may be reviewed to ensure proper standards are met for file maintenance. All members of the College of Psychologists are required to keep utmost standards of confidentiality for any files they may review as part of this process.
IS YOUR INFORMATION SECURE?
We take all reasonable precautions to ensure that your information is kept safe from loss, unauthorized access, modification, or disclosure. Among the steps taken to protect your information are: premise security, restricted file access with all files stored on-site in locked cabinets, and technological safeguards such as computer passwords, encryption, and security software. Closed files are stored for a period of 10 years after which they are destroyed.
ACCESS TO INFORMATION
You are entitled to view your file upon request and correct any information on file that may be inaccurate.
VIDEO OR AUDIO RECORDING OF SESSIONS
In general, sessions are not recorded by any video or audio methods. If we think this would be useful, we will always ask your permission first. If you would like to record sessions or phone calls for your own purposes, we require that we discuss this and sign an agreement prior to any recording being made.
INQUIRIES
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your information or my policy regarding collection and use of personal and/or health information please feel free to ask us.
WHY DO WE NEED PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION?
In providing psychological services we need to collect personal health information for various reasons including: compiling a history of your health, understanding your needs, and meeting regulatory requirements.
WHAT INFORMATION DO WE COLLECT?
We collect information such as, but not limited to: age, identification numbers, emergency contact information, family history, and your current and past physical and emotional health.
HOW DO WE COLLECT INFORMATION?
We collect information in the normal course of your assessment and treatment. Information regarding your treatment needs is generally gathered from yourself directly. There may be circumstances in which family members, a legal representative, or other health care providers also provide information to us in order to facilitate your assessment and treatment.
CONSENT
We ask individuals to specifically consent if we collect, use, or disclose their personal and/or health information. Permission may be expressed in writing or be implied and may be given to me verbally, electronically, or through an authorized representative. Individuals may withdraw permission to collect, use, and disclose their personal and/or health information at any time.
USE OF INFORMATION
We use information to provide psychological treatment and services to patients and to administer client accounting. Where services are paid by a third party (such as the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, motor vehicle insurers, Criminal Injuries Compensation Boards, or extended health benefit insurers), we may invoice these third parties directly. No information regarding the content of treatment is provided, only your name, identification, dates of treatment, and costs of services.
DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
Under certain circumstances, we may be required to disclose personal and/or health information. For example:
1. If we are concerned that you may seriously harm either yourself, or another person.
2. If we are given information that leads us to suspect that a child is being neglected or abused.
3. If you report that you have been sexually abused by another health practitioner and you tell us the name of that person.
4. If any clinical notes and records are ordered by a judge during a criminal or civil trial.
As a regulated member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario we are required to submit to quality assurance reviews. This may mean that we are interviewed by another psychologist representing the College of Psychologists. Administrative practices are discussed as part of this review and files may be reviewed to ensure proper standards are met for file maintenance. All members of the College of Psychologists are required to keep utmost standards of confidentiality for any files they may review as part of this process.
IS YOUR INFORMATION SECURE?
We take all reasonable precautions to ensure that your information is kept safe from loss, unauthorized access, modification, or disclosure. Among the steps taken to protect your information are: premise security, restricted file access with all files stored on-site in locked cabinets, and technological safeguards such as computer passwords, encryption, and security software. Closed files are stored for a period of 10 years after which they are destroyed.
ACCESS TO INFORMATION
You are entitled to view your file upon request and correct any information on file that may be inaccurate.
VIDEO OR AUDIO RECORDING OF SESSIONS
In general, sessions are not recorded by any video or audio methods. If we think this would be useful, we will always ask your permission first. If you would like to record sessions or phone calls for your own purposes, we require that we discuss this and sign an agreement prior to any recording being made.
INQUIRIES
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your information or my policy regarding collection and use of personal and/or health information please feel free to ask us.