Summary of Our Privacy Policies
At JMCC, we care deeply about the privacy and safety of your personal health information. This summary explains how we follow Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) and what you and your family can expect from us when it comes to privacy.
What is Personal Health Information (PHI)?
Personal Health Information (PHI) is any information that can identify you and says something about your health or healthcare. This includes:
- Your name, date of birth, or health card number
- Notes from appointments, assessments, or treatments
- Information shared with us by you, your family, doctors, therapists, or other health professionals
Who Must Follow This Policy?
Everyone who works or volunteers with JMCC must follow our privacy rules, including:
- JMCC staff
- Doctors, therapists, and nurses
- Students and volunteers
- Consultants and contractors
- Board members and partner organizations
They must follow these rules at JMCC and anywhere they do work related to JMCC— like home visits, schools, community events, or while using email or phones.
How We Collect and Use Information
We collect information:
- To help provide the best care and services to your child and family
- To understand your child’s needs, strengths, and progress
- To plan, monitor, and improve our programs
We collect only the information we truly need, and we explain why we need it. This information may come from:
- You or your family
- Forms you complete
- Doctors or other health professionals
- Observations, assessments, and treatment sessions
Your Rights as a Client or Family
You have the right to:
- See your personal health information
- Ask us to correct mistakes in your records
- Know how your information is collected, used, and shared
- Ask questions or raise concerns about your privacy
If you want to look at or change your information, just let us know and we’ll help guide you through the process.
How We Keep Your Information Safe
We use strong safeguards to protect your information, including:
- Locking up paper files
- Passwords and secure systems for digital files
- Training staff on how to keep information private
- Making sure only people who need your information can see it
We do not store or send personal health information on personal devices (like a worker’s own phone or laptop).
When We Share Information
We only share your information when:
- You give us permission
- The law says we must (for example, in emergencies or if someone is in danger)
- It’s needed to coordinate your care with other health professionals or service providers
If we do share information, we do it carefully and only what’s necessary.
Email and Digital Communication
Sometimes families and staff communicate by email. If you choose to do this, it’s important to know:
- Email is not 100% secure.
- We’ll ask you to agree to the risks if you choose to communicate this way.
If There is a Privacy Breach
If there is ever a mistake where your private information is seen or shared by someone who shouldn’t have access, we will:
- Report it right away to our Privacy Officer
- Investigate what happened
- Tell you what happened and what we’re doing to fix it
- Take steps to make sure it doesn’t happen again
Our Promise
We are committed to following PHIPA and doing everything we can to protect your personal health information. All of our staff receive privacy training when they start and get regular updates to stay informed.
We review our policies every year and update them when needed to follow the law and best practices.
Questions?
If you have questions or concerns about your privacy, or would like to see or correct your records, please contact:
JMCC Privacy Officer
Dawn Mulder, Supervisor Intake and Health Information Management
Phone: 519-252-7281 ext. 229
Email: [email protected]
If you have a concern about how your information has been handled by JMCC, you may call the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario at 1-800-387-0073 or www.ipc.on.ca