Information and Privacy

Waypoint recognizes the importance of the privacy and sensitivity of your personal health information. We will respect and safeguard your information under our custody and we are committed to protecting your personal health information.

Your experience at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care is influenced by several provincial acts, including:

  * The Public Hospitals Act, 1990.
  * The Ontario Mental Health Act, 1990, which outlines the legal rights of 
     patients who are admitted to a psychiatric facility and the responsibilities
     of many of the individuals involved in their treatment.
  * The Health Care Consent Act, 1996, which governs treatment in Ontario
     and the system of substitute decision-making for individuals who are 
     incapable of making their own treatment decisions.
  * Waypoint physicians and staff members make every effort to inform
     patients about their clinical condition and their treatment plan.
     This is to allow Waypoint patients, or their substitute decision
     makers, to participate fully in treatment decisions and to protect
     their rights and interests.

What is Personal Health Information?
Personal Health Information (PHI) is information about an individual that relates to their physical or mental health, including family health history, information that relates to the health care the individual receives including treatment plans, testing or examination of body parts or substances, or information such as an individual’s health number.

What is Privacy?
As it relates to health information, privacy is an individual’s right to knowledge of and control over any information about them.

What is Confidentiality?
Confidentiality is the duty of an individual or organization to maintain privacy by not disclosing or providing access to health information that is provided by an individual, family member, or guardian to others outside of the circle of care unless authorized by the individual or as authorized by law.

How We Keep Your Information Secure?
Your personal health information is kept confidential and secure and is not disclosed to anyone outside of Waypoint without your consent, unless disclosure is permitted or required by law. We take steps to ensure that individuals providing services for us protect your privacy and only use your personal health information for the purposes you have consented to or for purposes permitted or required by law.

We take steps to protect your personal health information from:
  * theft
  * loss and unauthorized access and viewing
  * unauthorized copying, modification, or use
  * unauthorized disclosure and disposal

We conduct audits regularly and complete investigations to monitor and manage our privacy compliance.

Access
The collection, use, access, and/or disclosure of personal health information is governed by Ontario law (Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), 2004).  You have a right, by law, to access your own personal health information, which is subject to some exceptions.  You also have the right to request corrections to your records of personal health information. You may withdraw your consent if you have previously given consent to share your personal health information and disclosures by contacting the Waypoint Privacy Office.

Collection of your Personal Health Information
Waypoint’s collection of your personal health information is limited to what is reasonable under the circumstances. Where possible, we collect personal health information about you directly from you or from the person acting on your behalf. We may collect information indirectly from other sources, where permitted or required by law.

The information collected may include but is not limited to:
  * Name
  * Date of birth
  * Address
  * Health history
  * Records of your visits to Waypoint and the care you received during
     those visits

Before collecting your personal health information from you, we will explain to you the purpose of collecting the information. The cornerstone to protecting your privacy is consent. We will only collect, use, and disclose your personal health information with your consent, except where otherwise permitted to or required by law.

Uses and Disclosures of Personal Health Information
Your personal health information shall be used only for the purpose for which it is collected with few exceptions. 

We use and disclose your personal health information in accordance with PHIPA to:
  * support your treatment and care for you in hospital and in the community
  * get payment for your treatment and care (OHIP, WSIB, your private
     insurer, or others)
  * plan, administer, and manage our internal operations
  * conduct risk management activities
  * conduct quality improvement activities (sending patient
     satisfaction surveys)
  * teaching
  * conduct research
  * compile statistics
  * fundraise
  * comply with legal and regulatory requirements
  * fulfill other purposes permitted or required by law

For more information about your privacy rights, you may access the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario:
     2 Bloor Street, East, Suite 1400
     Toronto  ON  M4W 1A8
     Tel:  416-326-3333; Toll-free:  1-800-387-0073
     Email:  [email protected]
     Website:  https://www.ipc.on.ca