Welland TMJ Privacy Policy
Your Privacy Matters
Collection Of Information
Welland TMJ only collects information required to provide safe and effective health care and that which our regulating bodies, The College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO), requires for patient health records. We request that patients provide us with general and emergency contact information so that we may notify of any chance for cancellations of appointments. We will use a method of communication agreed upon in advance with each patient. This may include calling, texting and/or email.
Keeping Your Health Records
If you are 18 years of age or older, your health records are kept in a secure location for 10 years after your last appointment as required by the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA). If you are under the age of 18 at the time of your last appointment, your records will be kept for 10 years after you turn the age of 18. Patient health records are the property of Welland TMJ. If your therapist leaves the clinic, your files will remain at Welland TMJ as the owner is the Healthcare Record Custodian. Once your information is no longer required to be kept by law, it will be destroyed.
Access to Files and Information
Welland TMJ is currently a single practitioner clinic. Currently there is no sharing of files between practitioners and your information remains confidential. Should the model of the clinic change, the privacy policy will be adjusted and sharing of files will be discussed with each patient prior to doing so.
Your health records are required to be kept confidential unless required by law. Your written consent is required prior to any information being released.
Our regulatory college may inspect our records and interview us as a part of their quality assurance program. This is done in the publics best interest.
Security of Your Personal Information
Our clinic uses a secure booking system that follows The Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) requirements.
As such, this system provides security for your information. An activity log is kept for each transaction and is reviewed periodically.
Should a data breach occur, our clinic is required to report the incident as soon as possible to any patients that may be affected as well as reporting it to the Privacy Commissioner.
Family Relationships at Our Clinic
Our booking system allows users to create “family” profiles. This allows family members to book and cancel appointments, receive notifications and reminders and as well as print receipts from previous appointments.
For all of the above reasons, and for security purposes, if a family relationship status is established in the system, an email notification is sent to the patient when a relationship/permission has been edited either by themselves or administratively.
Patient Access To Files
Patients have the right to see and read their files as well as obtain copies should they wish. Adequate notice must be provided to obtain copies or review their files.
We will request reasonable payment for any photocopies, consultation or summary of patient files. We will provide you with an estimate of the total cost in advance of processing your request.