Important information for patients and families
Personal Health Information Protection Act
Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) came into effect on November 1, 2004. The Act establishes legal requirements for the collection, use, disclosure, retention and destruction of personal health information in Ontario. This page is intended to provide you with information about Sunnybrook’s compliance with PHIPA and our Privacy Program.
Collection of personal health information
We collect personal health information about you in order to provide you with health care or assist in the provision of healthcare to you by other healthcare providers. We may collect this information either from you directly or, in some circumstances, from a person designated to make care decisions on your behalf. The information that we collect may include your name, date of birth, address, health history, and other records of your visits and the care that you received either at Sunnybrook or from other healthcare providers.
Permitted uses and disclosures of personal health information
In accordance with PHIPA, we may use and disclose your personal health information:
- To treat and care for you.
- To receive payment for your treatment and care (e.g. from OHIP, WSIB, your private insurer, or others payors).
- To conduct risk management activities.
- To conduct quality improvement activities
- For teaching purposes.
- To conduct research.
- To compile statistics.
- For fundraising purposes to improve our programs and services.
- To comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
- To fulfill other purposes as permitted or required by law.
It's your choice
Where your consent is required for any collection, use or disclosure of your personal health information, you may withdraw or withhold consent by contacting Sunnybrook’s Privacy Office via email at privacy@sunnybrook.ca
Our pledge to protect your personal health information
- We will take steps to protect your personal health information from theft, loss or unauthorized access, copying, modification, use, disclosure or disposal.
- We will take steps to ensure that anyone who performs services on Sunnybrook’s behalf respects your privacy rights and only uses or discloses your personal health information for Sunnybrook’s or other legally permitted purposes.
- We will promptly investigate all complaints regarding our compliance with PHIPA. All privacy complaints will be treated in a confidential manner.
Contact information
For more information about our privacy protection practices, or to raise a concern you may have about our practices, please contact us at:
By mail:
Sunnybrook Privacy Office
2075 Bayview Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5
By telephone:
416-480-6100 ext. 61236
By email:
privacy@sunnybrook.ca
You have the right to complain to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario if you believe Sunnybrook has violated your PHIPA rights. The Commissioner can be reached at:
Information and Privacy Commissioner / Ontario
2 Bloor Street East, Suite 1400
Toronto, Ontario M4W 1A8
416-326-3333
commissioner@ipc.on.ca
www.ipc.on.ca
