Your right to privacy
The Brant Community Healthcare System takes precautions to ensure that everyone who performs services for us protects your privacy and only uses your personal health information for the purposes you have consented to.
Consent
Personal health information that is collected, used or disclosed requires consent of the patient, except under certain circumstances, e.g., required by law.
Consent can be either “Implied” or “Express”.
Implied Consent
Patients who request healthcare services at the BCHS imply consent for their personal health information to be collected, used and disclosed within their ‘circle of care”.
These individuals may include:
• Physicians,
• Nurses and Allied Healthcare professionals (including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nutritionists, pharmacy, etc.)
• Administrative staff responsible for handling and processing Personal Health Information
• Diagnostic and Laboratory Technologists
• Other agencies and facilities (e.g. long term care)
Express Consent
Patients who request healthcare services at the BCHS will provide express consent for their personal health information to be used or shared with third parties (e.g., lawyers, insurance companies).
For your protection
• We take steps to protect your personal health information from theft, loss and unauthorized access, copying, modification, use, disclosure and disposal.
• We conduct audits and complete investigations to monitor and manage our privacy compliance.
• Staff, Physicians and Volunteers complete a Confidentiality Pledge
If you do not want your information disclosed
Patients also have the ability to ‘opt-out' of collection, use or disclosure of their personal health information.
Patients must be aware, however, that if they choose not to have their medical information shared with other healthcare professionals (e.g. Family Physician, Specialists, referrals, other healthcare agencies) that this may strongly impact the quality of care we can provide. Please consider this prior to making the decision to “opt-out” of sharing your medical information. Your caregiver will be pleased to discuss this with you, should you have any questions.
The Brant Community Healthcare System collects, uses and discloses personal health information for the purpose of:
• Providing care to our patients,
• Planning, administering and managing our internal operations,
• Acquiring payment for your treatment and care (from OHIP, WSIB, your private insurer or others),
• Conducting risk management activities and quality improvement activities (such as sending patient satisfaction surveys),
• The administration and management of the hospital,
• Conducting research, compiling statistics, and teaching,
• Complying with legal and regulatory requirements,
• Raising funds through The Brantford General Hospital Foundation and The Willett Hospital Foundation to improve our healthcare services and programs.
Individual Access
The BCHS, upon request, will inform you of the existence, use, and disclosure of your personal health information. We will provide access for a reasonable cost and within a reasonable time. You may challenge the accuracy and completeness of the information and have it amended as appropriate. Certain circumstances may restrict or deny you from access, which you can ask to have explained to you .
How to contact us
Your personal health information will only be used in compliance with BCHS's Privacy Policy, which is posted on the BCHS website, www.bchsys.org , or is available upon request.
Our Chief Privacy Officer is:
Mr. Chris Eivers
Brant Community Healthcare System
200 Terrace Hill Street
Brantford , Ontario N3R 1G9
(519) 751-5889
You have the right to complain to the Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario if you think we have violated your rights. The Commissioner can be reached at:
2 Bloor Street East
Suite 1400
Toronto , Ontario
M4W 1A8
1-800-387-0073