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The Huron County Health Unit is committed to maintaining the confidentiality and security of your personal health information and takes necessary precautions to protect the privacy of your personal health information.
The Government of Ontario has enacted privacy legislation which applies to most health care providers in the Province. The Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA) requires that strict rules be followed to protect the personal health information collected, used and/or disclosed by "health information custodians" including the Huron County Health Unit.
The County of Huron is committed to protecting the privacy of all visitors to our web site. For more information, please see the Web Privacy Statement in the Copyright & Disclaimer Statement of this web site.
Collection of Personal Health Information
The Huron County Health Unit collects personal health information about you from you, and other authorized persons acting for you, to promote and protect health, and to prevent disease. The personal health information collected can include:
- Name, address, date of birth
- Facts about your health and individual/family health history
- Records of your visits to the Health Unit and care received during your visits
Sometimes we collect health information about you from other places if you have agreed that we may, or if it is legal to do so.
Personal health information may be collected through a face-to-face meeting with a staff person, over the phone, through written papers and/or electronic documents. All documentation of personal health information is recorded on paper and/or electronically, and complies with internal policies and procedures.
Use and Disclosure of Personal Health Information
The Huron County Health Unit is mandated by the Ontario government under the Health Protection and Promotion Act to provide health promotion, health protection and disease prevention programs and services to the residents of the County of Huron. The primary use of personal health information is to treat and care for you. When necessary, we may use and disclose your personal health information to:
- Plan, deliver and manage our services
- Compile statistics (names are not disclosed)
- Share information with your other health care providers
- Meet legal requirements
Personal health information is kept secure in accordance with the Huron County Health Unit policies on Records Management and Access & Privacy. We make sure your information is not lost, stolen or used by someone that should not have access; all personal health information is kept private and is stored and/or disposed of in a secure way.
Access to Personal Health Information
Your personal health information is collected and used with your implied consent. Under PHIPA you have the right to:
- See and correct your personal health records
- Tell the Health Unit that you want to withdraw your consent for some of the ways in which your information is used
If you would like to access your personal health information or know more about the privacy practices of the Huron County Health Unit, please contact our Freedom of Information (FOI) Co-ordinator Brad Lucas at: 519.482.3416 or toll-free 1.877.837.6143.
The Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC) of Ontario oversees the administration of provincial privacy legislation for health information custodians. The IPC reviews complaints and enforces the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004. You have the right to complain to the IPC if you are concerned with how the Huron County Health Unit has handled your Personal Health Information. The Commissioner can be reached at:
Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
2 Bloor Street East, Suite 1400
Toronto, Ontario M4W 1A8
Telephone: 416.326.3333 OR 1.800.387.0073
Fax: 416.325.9195
TTY: 416.325.7539
Website: www.ipc.on.ca
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