The information we collect includes: 

• Your name 
• Date of birth 
• Address 
• Health history 
• Records of your visits
• The care you received at Niagara Health and other hospitals or clinics 

Occasionally, we may collect PHI about you from other sources if we have obtained your consent to do so or if the law permits. 

We collect your PHI and store this information in our electronic hospital information system. We may also collect PHI from other authorized caregivers so that we are able to fully understand your health history to support your care journey. 

There are several ways in which we use your PHI, all of which are appropriately designed and monitored to align with the requirements of PHIPA.

To support your care experience and treatment:  We may share general information about your health status with friends, family members, or religious/spiritual representatives concerned about you, unless you request otherwise, in order to support your health care journey. 

To improve our services for the community we serve:  We use your PHI to plan, administer, and manage our operations and services. This includes conducting risk management, quality of care activities, and gathering feedback through patient experience surveys, all of which are used to improve the services we deliver. 

To support administrative requirements: We use your PHI to comply with legal and regulatory requirements and to secure payment for services provided to you (e.g., OHIP, WSIB, private insurer, or others). 

To support fundraising efforts:  As a public hospital, Niagara Health relies on financial support from the community to offer services. Unless you request otherwise, we may provide your name and contact information to the Niagara Health Foundation to support our fundraising efforts. 

To support research efforts: We will generally obtain your consent before collecting, using, and sharing your PHI for research. Some studies do not require consent but must be approved by a research ethics board and have privacy safeguards in place. Research activities will help us to understand and enhance health services at Niagara Health. 

To enhance learning opportunities for our staff: We may use your PHI to inform training and learning opportunities for clinicians, staff, trainees, and learners. This is done in a way that ensures information does not identify you as the patient. 

Your PHI may be used and shared with health providers, both within and outside of Niagara Health as necessary, to assist in your care and treatment. Additionally, your PHI may be used to update your provincial electronic health record and other secure electronic systems to ensure timely and coordinated care. 

We strive to ensure that all service providers for Niagara Health protect your privacy and use your PHI only for consented purposes or as permitted by PHIPA. Any person who works, studies, or volunteers at Niagara Health is required to follow all of the privacy policies according to the obligations under PHIPA. 

We have administrative, physical, and technical security measures in place to protect your PHI from any unauthorized access, theft, copying, modification, use, disclosure, and disposal. We also conduct privacy audits and have breach management policies in place to monitor and ensure PHI privacy compliance. 

You can request that your PHI has limited access by asking for a consent directive, which is also referred to as a “lockbox.” This lockbox allows you to specify if you would like to lock your whole health record, specific visits, or from a particular staff member(s) who you do not want to see your PHI. To do this, please contact the Privacy Office at 905-378-4647, ext. 44475. 

You may obtain a copy of your health records by contacting the Health Records Office at Niagara Health.

You may request a review and correction of the information that you feel is inaccurate or incomplete in your health record by contacting the Health Records Office at Niagara Health. 

If you believe that someone has inappropriately accessed your health records, you may request an audit of your health record through the Privacy Office at Niagara Health at 905-378-4647 x44475.

Niagara Health has launched a Hospital Information System (HIS) with important updates to how we protect your Personal Health Information (PHI). These updates strengthen security measures, clarify how your information is used and enhance your ability to control access to your data.

Niagara Health employs various measures to safeguard your PHI, including: 

• Secure electronic health record systems 
• Data encryption 
• Staff training on privacy protocols 
• Regular audits to ensure compliance with privacy regulations

Access to your health information is limited to authorized personnel who need it for your care, such as doctors, nurses, and administrative staff. You can request to know who has accessed your records by contacting the Privacy Office at 905-378-4647 x44475.

You have several rights concerning your PHI, including: 

• The right to access your health records. 
• The right to request corrections to your records. 
• The right to withdraw consent for sharing your information, except where required by law. 
• The right to restrict who can access your health records. 

You can withdraw consent by contacting our Privacy Office at 905-378-4647 x44475. They will provide you with the necessary forms and information on how your withdrawal of consent may affect your care. 

Yes, you have the right to opt out of sharing your PHI for certain activities, such as fundraising, hospital directory listings, sharing visit details with your family doctor, marketing or research. To learn more, speak with a member of the Patient Registration staff at the time of your hospital visit or contact the Privacy Office at 905-378-4647 x44475.

If you have any concerns about your privacy or how your PHI is being handled, please speak with a member of our staff or contact the Privacy Office at 905-378-4647 x44475. We take all concerns seriously and will address them as promptly as possible.

We will communicate any significant changes to our privacy policies through notices in our facilities, on our website, and via direct communication if necessary. We encourage you to stay informed by checking our website regularly.