Privacy Statement

The Etobicoke Children's Centre recognizes the individual's right to privacy. The Centre is committed to protecting the privacy of its clients, employees, volunteers, donors and any other individuals with whom it has contact. As a health information custodian, The ECC is committed to complying with the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004, (“PHIPA”) protecting the privacy and security of the personal health information collected from our clients. Amongst other things, PHIPA, also governs the collection, use and disclosure of personal health information. We value the trust of our clients, and of the public, and recognize that to maintain this trust, we have to be open and accountable in how we treat the information that clients choose to share with us. Although our clients are children, they are in many cases accompanied by parent(s), guardian(s) or other family members. A client’s parent or other person authorized by law can normally provide consent to collect, use or disclose personal health information on their behalf.

The Centre will collect only that personal information which is required by legislation and/or is relevant to the work of The Centre. The purpose for which information is collected shall be identified in advance of collection.

Collection of Personal Health Information

We collect personal health information about the client directly or from the person authorized to act on the client’s behalf. When a client is asked for personal health information, they have the choice to agree or refuse to provide the information. The client may also control some of the uses and disclosures of their information. The personal health information that The Centre collects may include, for example, the client’s or parent’s/legal guardian’s name, date of birth, address, relevant background/history, clinical information, records of your visits/meetings, the reasons for attendance at The Centre and information with respect to the service/care we provide. Occasionally, The Centre collects personal health information about the client from other sources if we have obtained informed consent to do so or if the law permits. We will not collect personal health information if other information will serve the purpose. We will not collect more personal health information that what is reasonably necessary to meet the purpose.

Use and Disclosure of Personal Health Information

We may share our clients’ personal health information with other professionals who provide care to our clients for the purpose of providing health care services. We may also use and disclose personal health information in order to:

• provide and coordinate service;
• supervise and provide education to The ECC staff or students as part of their contract with The ECC;
• obtain payment for health care services, including payment from the Ontario Health Insurance Plan;
• plan, administer and manage our internal operations,
• conduct risk management and quality improvement activities,
• facilitate reviews by accrediting or governing bodies;
• conduct permitted research/evaluation. However, information gathered for the purpose of research/ evaluation must receive the client’s informed consent and the information would be aggregated and non-identifying,
• comply with legal and regulatory requirements, and fulfill other purposes permitted or required by law (i.e. reporting the abuse of a child to the relevant authority).

Where a client chooses not to provide The Centre with permission to collect, use or disclose personal information, The Centre may not have sufficient information to provide services to the client.

Access and Correction of Record of Personal Health Information

Access to information is restricted to employees and agents of The Etobicoke Children's Centre on a "need to know" basis. Under PHIPA, the client or authorized designate has the right to request access to, correct and update the information within their record of personal health information. If the client would like to see, correct or update the information with the record, a written request is to be made to our Privacy Officer, identified below and we will fulfill your request within 30 days.

Security

We will take all reasonable steps to ensure that personal health information in our custody or control is protected from theft, loss and unauthorized access, copying, use, disclosure or disposal. In the unfortunate event that the above occurs with respect to personal health information, we would normally inform the parent or guardian of such an occurrence at the first most reasonable opportunity.

Other

Personal information including, but not limited to information about donors, will not be sold.
Only the domain name, not the email address of visitors to our website will be collected.

Complaint

If there are any questions or concerns regarding the privacy and/or information practises at The ECC, please contact our Privacy Officer, Ewa Deszynski at 416- 240-1111. If a privacy concern cannot be directly resolved with The ECC, a concern or complaint may be filed with the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario at: 2 Bloor St. East, Suite 1400, Toronto, ON M4W 1A8, Tel: 416-326-3333, info@ip.on.ca.

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