Information Practices / Client Safety / Customer Service Standards
The Health Department is dedicated to protecting your privacy and keeping your health information confidential. We understand that your personal health information is sensitive and must be handled with care and respect. When we collect or use your personal health information, we take steps to make sure it stays private and secure.
You have the right to know how we collect, use, and disclose your personal health information. You can ask to see or correct your Health Department record, or to withdraw your consent.
Health Department Privacy Information Practices Statement
Privacy and information security |
The Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA) outlines the rules for the collection, use and disclosure of personal health information. The Commissioner & Medical Officer of Health (MOH) is the Health Information Custodian for the Durham Region Health Department under PHIPA. The MOH is responsible to ensure that your personal health information is collected, used, stored, and shared in a manner that upholds your privacy and confidentiality. Any person who works as an agent of the MOH shares the same obligation to protect the privacy and security of your personal health information. |
Protecting your personal health information |
Physical, administrative and technical safeguards protect your personal health information from theft, loss, and unauthorized access, copying, modification, use, disclosure and disposal. Routine audits are conducted to monitor and manage compliance with our privacy and security policies and procedures. The Health Department ensures that anyone working for us protects your privacy. They are only allowed to use or disclose your personal health information for the purpose you have consented to or when permitted or required by law. Everyone who works for or with the Health Department must complete privacy training and sign a confidentiality agreement. |
Collection of your personal health information |
The Health Department will collect personal health information about you directly from you or from the person acting on your behalf. The personal health information that is collected may include your name, birth date, address, health history, records of visits and other visits with the Health Department, and the programs and services that you received during those visits. Occasionally, we collect personal health information about you from other sources if we have obtained your consent to do so or if permitted by law. All information collected by us is documented on paper and/or electronically and kept confidential as outlined in our internal policies and procedures. Provincial electronic information systems are used by the Health Department to support ongoing health care services and programs. These systems may collect, record, and verify information used for our services. The systems are securely hosted by the Government of Ontario’s data centres and include some of the following:
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Use of your personal health information |
The Health Department uses your personal health information for the purpose of:
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Release of your personal health information |
The Health Department will not disclose your personal health information without your consent, unless permitted or required by law. We may share your information without your consent, in accordance with PHIPA:
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Your rights |
It is important to understand your various privacy rights under PHIPA. This includes your right to:
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How to contact us |
For more information about our information protection practices, or to raise a concern you have with these practices, please contact: Manager, Health Information, Privacy & Security
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How to file a privacy complaint |
If, after contacting us, you feel that your concerns have not been addressed to your satisfaction, you have the right to file a complaint with the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario. The Commissioner can be reached at: Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
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Client safety and customer service
As a client of Durham Region Health Department it's important to know that you have many rights and responsibilities that ensure the safety of you and those around you. |
You have the right to:
Your responsibilities include:
Please do not email questions about your personal or private health concerns. Please call 1-800-841-2729 and your call will be sent to the appropriate person in the Health Department. We reply to emails within five business days. Health Department HELP LINEDurham Health Connection Line Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 905-668-2020 or 1-800-841-2729. Durham Health Connection Line will respond to incoming calls within two business days, except in extenuating circumstances where there would be an unusually high call volume such as during an outbreak, or during immunization suspension time. |
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