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Privacy Policy Statement
Preface
Effective January 1, 2004, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act and Regulations (PIPEDA) began to apply to all organizations that collect, use or disclose personal information in the course of commercial activities. Also, the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), a new provincial law governing the collection, use and disclosure of personal health information within the health care system was introduced. Applied Biomechanics is subject to both legislations.
Applied Biomechanics Custom Orthotic Services Inc. (ABCOS) understands the importance of protecting your personal information and has enacted a Privacy policy (information practices) governing the collection, use, retention and disclosure of your personal information.
Contents
This Privacy policy describes the principles ABCOS will use to protect the privacy of personal information in its possession. It addresses the reasons why such information is collected, how it is used, how its confidentiality is protected and outlines the clients' rights in respects of this information. This Privacy policy incorporates and expands the 10 principles for the protection of personal information.
The general principles that ABCOS adheres to are as follows:
Accountability – Applied Biomechanics is responsible for all personal information under its custody or control and shall take all reasonable required steps to protect your personal information from unauthorized access or disclosure.
All staff of Applied Biomechanics have been trained with regard to the safeguarding of personal information
Identifying Purposes – Applied Biomechanics shall identify the purposes for which personal information is required prior to or at the time that personal information is collected. Personal information that ABCOS collects from clients includes: the client's name and address and other contact information; client medical information such as but not limited to, date of birth, height, weight, prescription from doctor, history of injury/complaint, findings of examination, family physician, referring physician; third party payment information such as insurance company, policy number, coverage, third party claim number; Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) number if accessing a government funded payment program.
ABCOS will collect personal information for the following purposes:
Treatment and care of client
Report findings to family or referring physician
Billing and collection of payments from client and/or third party providers
Consent – Applied Biomechanics shall obtain the knowledge and consent of individuals for the collection or disclosure of personal information except where required or permitted by law. An individual can provide consent to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information about them expressly or implicitly. ABCOS will obtain verbal and/or written consent before it collects personal information from all new customers.
Limiting Collection – Applied Biomechanics shall only collect personal information that is required for the specified legitimate business purposes.
Limiting Use, Disclosure and Retention – Applied Biomechanics shall not use or disclose personal information except with the consent of the individual or where required or permitted by law. ABCOS will only use the personal information for the purpose for which it was collected as identified in principle #2, unless consent is given by the individual to use or disclose it for another purpose.
Accuracy – Applied Biomechanics has an obligation to ensure that personal information is accurate, complete and up-to-date for the purpose for which it was collected. Individuals may challenge the accuracy and completeness of personal information about them and have it amended, as appropriate.
Safeguards – Applied Biomechanics shall take reasonable steps to protect personal information against unauthorized use, access or disclosure in accordance with its obligations at law. Such safeguards will include physical measures, organizational measures and technological measures, for example locked filing cabinets, limiting access on a 'need to know' basis and use of passwords. Procedures for implementing these measures will be communicated to all employees.
Openness – The Applied Biomechanics Privacy policy and procedures shall be made available to individuals upon request and via the website.
Individual Access – Upon request, an individual can have access to the personal information about them that ABCOS has in its possession or control. Any client may request that their personal information be amended for purposes of accuracy and completeness
Challenging Compliance – Any client of ABCOS may challenge ABCOS's compliance with this Privacy policy by contacting ABCOS directly. If the client is not satisfied with the way ABCOS has responded to a complaint, the client can contact the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
Should you have any questions concerning your personal information, please contact our privacy officer (contact person) as follows:
Cathy Rayner
3 -34 Harvard Rd
Guelph, On
N1G 4V8
cray@appliedbiomechanics.com
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