Statement of Information Practices

Collection of Personal Health Information
We collect personal health information (PHI) about you directly 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 West Lincoln Memorial Hospital (WLMH) 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.

Uses and Disclosures of Personal Health Information
We use and disclose your personal health information to:

• Treat and care for you,
• Get payment for your treatment and care from OHIP, WSIB, your private insurer or others,
• Plan, administer and manage our internal operations,
• Conduct risk management activities,
• Conduct quality improvement activities,
• Compile statistics,
• Fundraise to improve our health care services and programs,
• Conduct research,
• Teach,
• Notify a representative of a religious or other organization to visit you during your stay,
• Conduct patient satisfaction surveys,
• Confirm that you are a patient, your general health status and your room and telephone extension while in hospital.

Your Choices
You may withdraw your consent for some of the above uses and disclosures by contacting the Medical Records Department and completing a Withdrawal of Consent for Personal Health Information Use form.  You may access and correct your personal health records by contacting the Medical Records Department.

Important Information
We take steps to protect your personal health information from theft, loss and unauthorized access, copying, modification, use, disclosure and disposal.

• We conduct audits and complete 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 for which you have consented.

How to Contact Us
For more information about WLMH privacy protection practices, or to raise a concern you have with our practices, please contact us:

Chief Privacy Officer
169 Main Street East
Grimsby ON L3M 1P3
Fax: (905) 945-3125 (Do not send personal info via e-mail or fax)
E-mail: comments@wlmh.on.ca
Tel: (905) 945-2253, Ext. 282
Website: www.wlmh.on.ca

You have the right to contact the Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario if you think we have violated your rights. The Commissioner can be reached at:

Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario
2 Bloor Street East, Suite 1400 Toronto ON M4W 1A8
Tel: (416) 326-3333 or 1-800-387-3333
Fax: (416) 325-9195  (Do not send personal info via e-mail or fax)