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Privacy Policy
Privacy and Confidentiality
Your health information is treated with respect and your privacy is protected. Access to your personal health information is available only to those: i) who need to know, ii) who are involved in your healthcare, and iii) who have received your consent. These may include Physicians, Family Medicine Residents, Specialists, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Social Workers, Care Navigator, Chiropodist, Mental Health/Addictions Counsellor, Clinical Pharmacist, Physician Assistant or Registered Dietitians. When your personal health information is collected, the privacy and confidentiality of the information is protected.
Electronic Health Records
Client health information may be maintained in electronic health records that are password and firewall protected. The software only allows health professionals identified as involved in your health care to have access to your information.
Legislation
South East Toronto Family Health Team complies with the Health Information Protection Act (November 2004), comprised of both the Personal Health Information Protection Act (2004) and the Quality of Care Information Protection Act (2004).
Website Links:
From these Acts key privacy principles include:
Principle 1 – Accountability for Personal Information
South East Toronto Family Health Team is responsible for personal information under its custody or control and has a designated individual, the Chief Privacy Officer, who is accountable for the organization’s compliance with the legislation and the privacy principles that follow.
Principle 2 – Indentifying Purposes for Collection of Personal Information
As your personal information is being collected, the South East Toronto Family Health Team will identify the purpose for which it is collected. The primary purposes include: delivery of direct patient care, administration of the health care system, research and statistics, or to comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
Principle 3 – Consent for the Collection, Use and Disclosure of Personal Information
Your knowledge and consent are required for the collection, use or disclosure of personal information, except where inappropriate (guardianship; power of attorney).
Principle 4 – Limiting Collection of Personal Information
Only information that is needed for the purposes of the Family Health Team will be collected. Information will be collected by fair and lawful means.
Principle 5 – Limiting Use, Disclosure and Retention of Personal Information
Personal information will not be used or disclosed for purposes other than for those for which it was collected, except with the consent of the individual or as required by law. Personal information will be retained only as long as necessary for fulfillment of those purposes and in compliance with legislation.
Principle 6 – Ensuring Accuracy of Personal Information
Personal information will be as accurate, complete and up-to-date as is necessary for the purposes for which it is to be used.
Principle 7 – Ensuring Safeguards for Personal Information
Security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information will be used to protect personal information.
Principle 8 – Openness about Personal Information Policies and Practices
Information regarding the Family Health Team’s policies and practices relating to the management of personal information are available upon request.
Principle 9 – Individual Access to their own Personal Information
An individual may request access to their personal health information. An individual may challenge the accuracy and completeness of the information and have it amended as appropriate.
Principle 10 – Challenging Compliance with South East Toronto Family Health Team’s Privacy Policies and Practices
An individual may direct a challenge concerning compliance with the above principles to the Chief Privacy Officer.
Our Office Policies
To view our clinic policies, please click HERE
You must bring your Health card and all medication with you to each visit.
Although most of your appointments will be with the same primary care provider, sometimes your appointment will be with one of our other health care professionals, as we are an Interprofessional family health team.
If lab results from tests are not normal, you may need a follow-up appointment. Our office will contact you if this is the case.
Please let us know if you have confidential voicemail so that we can leave you messages and/or test results.
We suggest that all members of your family have appointments with the same primary care provider.
We will not prescribe any narcotic drugs or other drugs that can cause addiction on your first visit with us. We will only prescribe drugs of this type after we have done a full assessment and have reviewed your medical records.
For more information, please read our New Patient Information pamphlet.
Patient Rights and Responsibilities
Patient Rights:
As a patient of South East Toronto Family Health Team, you have the right to:
- Know the names of the people providing you with care.
- Receive care that is respectful, non-discriminatory, considerate and timely.
- Ask questions if you do not understand any information given to you.
- Be an active participant in your care and make choices about your treatment including refusing treatment and be informed of the health risks of your decision.
- Complete, up-to-date information about your diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in terms you can understand in order to participate in decisions regarding your care. This includes being told about any known risks and alternatives, if any.
- Be told if something unexpected and significant happens in your care and have any resulting changes to your care discussed with you.
- Make choices about how your information is collected, used and disclosed by us.
- Expect that all communications and records pertaining to your care be available only to those directly concerned with your care.
- Access your health record, either to view or receive a copy of it.
- Expect that your personal health information will be treated in a confidential manner by all FHT staff with whom you are involved.
- Express your concerns about South East Toronto Family Health Team or its staff and receive a response.
- Receive complete information about any research project in which you are invited to participate, with an option to refuse to participate without it affecting your care.
Patient Responsibilities:
As a patient of South East Toronto Family Health Team, we ask that you:
- Tell us about any concerns you have about the safety and/or quality of your care.
- Treat our Family Health Team staff, physicians, other patients and visitors with consideration and respect.
- Arrive at appointments and/or classes/workshops/groups promptly or, if they must be canceled or postponed, we ask that you notify us as soon as possible (at least 24 hours in advance).
- Be open and honest with us about your health history and health care needs (including your past and current illnesses, allergies, medications and dosages, and family health history).
- Let us know about any changes in your contact information.
- Take an active role in your own care. You can do this by:
- Being proactive in keeping yourself healthy.
- Using the advice and information from your health care providers.
- Asking questions to clarify information.
- Telling us what is important to you.
Immunization Record
Avoid school suspension by Reporting Your School-Age Child’s Vaccines to Toronto Public Health:
Your doctor does not report the information after each vaccine.
You can update your child’s immunization record:
Online: https://tph.icon.ehealthontario.ca
Fax: 416-338-2487
Questions? Call: 416-392-1250
Email: immunization@toronto.ca