Information Practices
At Norfolk General Hospital, we are committed to protecting the privacy of our patients and recognize that personal health information must be treated with respect and sensitivity. As a patient at Norfolk General Hospital, your personal health information is essential to your healthcare team. It allows us to provide you with the best possible care. Please note that your request for healthcare services implies that you consent to the collection, use and disclosure of your personal health information for specific related purposes.
We take steps to protect your personal health information from loss and unauthorized use or disclosure. We conduct audits and carry out investigations to monitor and manage our privacy compliance. We take steps 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.
For more information about our privacy practices or to raise a concern about our practices, you may contact our:
Privacy Officer
Telephone: 519-426-0130 ext. 1475
Fax: 519-429-6987
E-mail: privacy@ngh.on.ca
Collection of Personal Health Information
We collect personal health information about you from you or from the person acting on your behalf. The personal health information that we collect may include, for example, your name, date of birth, address, health history, records of your visits to Norfolk General Hospital and the care 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 the law permits.
How the Hospital Uses and Discloses Personal Health Information
Access to your personal health information is available to those who need it in order to provide care. This may include physicians, nurses, technologists, therapists and other health professionals. We use and disclose your personal health information to:
- treat and care for you
- facilitate continuity of care when you are transferred to another facility
- obtain payment for your treatment and care from OHIP, WSIB, private insurer or others
- plan, administer and manage our internal operations
- conduct risk management and quality improvement activities including patient satisfaction surveys
- teach
- conduct and support approved research
- compile statistics
- conduct fundraising initiatives to improve our healthcare services and programs
- comply with legal and regulatory requirements, and fulfill other purposes permitted or required by law.
Non-clinical information about your visit such as your name, location in the hospital and telephone number in the hospital may be released to family and friends in order to confirm you are a patient or notify a representative of a religious affiliation to visit you if you wish.
Your Choices
You may request access to or make a correction to your record by contacting the Release of Information Specialist in the Health Records Department of Norfolk General Hospital, by calling 519-426-0130 ext. 1491 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
If you have questions or concerns, you also have the right to contact:
The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
2 Bloor Street East Toronto, ON M4W 1A8
Telephone: (416) 326-3333 or 1-800-387-0073
Fax: (416) 325-9195
Website: www.ipc.on.ca
