Our Commitment

Our Commitment to Privacy:

Collection of Personal Health Information

Purpose:

The Pembroke Regional Hospital is mandated under the Personal Health Information Protection Act or PHIPA to regularly collect personal health information from all patients receiving healthcare services. The information collected helps inform the medical team to better service the patient’s needs. The information is also shared with the patient’s family physician in order to continue caring for the patient after discharge from the hospital. The information is usually collected from the patients themselves or from the person(s) acting on their behalf.

Scope:

The personal health information collected may include, for example, name, date of birth, address, health history, records of your visits to Pembroke Regional Hospital 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.

Disclosure of Personal Health Information

We may use and/or disclose your personal health information under very strict conditions or in an aggregate format in order to:

• 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 (such as sending patients satisfaction surveys)
• Teach
• Conduct internal research
• Compile statistics
• Fundraise to improve our healthcare services and programs
• Comply with legal and regulatory requirements
• Fulfil other purposes permitted or required by law

You Are In Charge Of Your Personal Health Information:

You may access and correct your personal health records, or withdraw your consent for some of the above uses and disclosures, (subject to legal exceptions), by contacting us.

As required by the Public Hospitals Act and the Personal Health Information Protection Act, the Health Records Department protects the privacy and confidentiality of your record and keeps your record for 10 years. After discharge, all requests for health information should be directed to the Medical Records Department at extension 6142.

Important Information

• We take your privacy and the confidentiality of your Personal Health Information very seriously. We have put in place a number of policies and procedures to protect your personal health information from theft, loss and unauthorized access, copying, modification, unauthorized 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 protect your privacy and only use your personal health information for the purposes you have consented to.
• In order to protect the confidentiality of our patients, all personal health information will not be released to anyone unless specifically requested by the patient. Patient information will not be given out over the telephone to anyone, at any time.

To contact us and for more information about our protection practices, or to raise a concern with our practices, please contact our Director of Decision Support and Patient Information at

Address: 705 Mackay Street

Pembroke, Ontario K8A 1G8

Tel: (613) 732-3675 extension 6167

Fax: (613) 732-6343

E-mail: privacy@prh.email

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

Address: 2 Bloor Street East

Suite 1400

Toronto, Ontario M4W 1A8

Phone: (416) 326-3333 / 1-800-387-0073

Fax: (416) 325-9195

Website: www.ipc.on.ca

Our Commitment to Patient Safety:

Patient safety is a priority at Pembroke Regional Hospital. Our goals are to ensure that everyone who receives care or service from us is kept safe and that we continue to work to prevent harm or injury to all patients. To make sure we provide the safest environment possible during your hospital stay, we need your active involvement.

During your hospital stay:

• Speak up – Ask questions about your care
• Tell us about your health history
• Know your medications and allergies
• Wash your hands and remind others
• Ask for help with activities
• Ensure we check your identification bracelet
• Understand your medications and treatments
• Ensure you know what to do after discharge

What does your involvement mean?

• We need you to provide detailed information about your current condition and health history
• That you should clearly understand your diagnosis and treatment plan and know what to expect
• Keeping us informed of any changes in your condition, good or bad (Such as an allergic reaction to a drug)
• Speak up when you have a question about any part of your care

Our Commitment to Mutual Respect and Tolerance:

Pembroke Regional Hospital recognizes its responsibility to ensure the well-being, safety and dignity of its patients/clients, their families, its employees and affiliates, physicians, volunteers and students. Pembroke Regional Hospital is committed to promoting an environment of mutual respect and tolerance.

Pembroke Regional Hospital further believes that all patients and staff, volunteers and students deserve a place free of harassment and violence. The hospital expects patients, family members, visitors, physicians, staff, volunteers, and students to behave in a manner that demonstrates mutual respect and tolerance at all times. There is no tolerance for abusive behaviour of any kind (e.g. physical or verbal).

The hospital is a public building however any person may be asked to leave the hospital if his or her behaviour is inconsistent with our expectation of mutual respect. Any person who verbally or physically attacks another person or destroys hospital property is liable and may be reported to the police.