This site has limited support for your browser. We recommend switching to Edge, Chrome, Safari, or Firefox.

We help patients who suffer from foot problems feel better.
Cart

PATIENT PRIVACY

 

 

PRIVACY AND FINANCIAL POLICY

1. Introduction

We value your privacy and your trust in our clinic. As a Health Information Custodian under the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) and a regulated health professional under the Chiropody Act, 1991, we:

  • Protect your personal health information as required by PHIPA and the College of Chiropodists of Ontario.
  • Follow the Ontario Human Rights Code to ensure equitable and respectful care for everyone.
  • Maintain clear, transparent policies for billing, payments, and appointment bookings.

2. Collection, Use, and Disclosure of Your Information

2.1 Health Information

  • We collect your health information (e.g., medical history, test results) to provide and coordinate your care.
  • We may share your health information with other providers (e.g., specialists, labs) or insurers when necessary for treatment or payment.
  • We follow PHIPA and the guidelines of the College of Chiropodists of Ontario on storing, securing, and disposing of your records.

2.2 Credit Card Information

  • Why We Request It: We may require a valid credit card to hold your appointment. This helps us reduce missed appointments or last-minute cancellations.
  • How It’s Handled:
    • We do not store your full credit card details in our office or in our electronic medical records (EMR).
    • Instead, we use a secure third-party payment processor that complies with payment security standards (e.g., PCI-DSS).
    • Your card will only be charged if you fail to show up for an appointment or cancel too late based on our cancellation policy.
  • Security Measures:
    • The third-party processor stores your card information in their secure system.
    • We do not record or keep your card data locally.

Note: If you have concerns about providing a credit card, please speak with us. We will do our best to find an alternative arrangement that is fair to both you and our other patients.

3. Your Rights Under PHIPA and Other Laws

  1. Access to Your Records

    • You have the right to see or request copies of your health records.
    • We may charge a reasonable fee to cover copying or mailing costs.

  2. Request a Correction

    • If anything in your records is inaccurate or incomplete, you can request a correction.
    • We will inform you in writing if we cannot fulfill your request.

  3. Restrict Use or Disclosure

    • You may ask us to limit certain uses or sharing of your health information.
    • We will comply unless there is a legal or professional requirement that prevents us from doing so.

  4. Confidential Communications

    • You can request that we contact you by a specific phone number, email, or mailing address to maintain privacy.

  5. Accounting of Disclosures

    • You have the right to a list of times we have disclosed your information (other than for treatment, payment, or health care operations) in the past six (6) years.

  6. Non-Discrimination and Human Rights

    • We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other protected ground.
    • We strive to provide respectful, inclusive care for all patients.

4. Our Legal and Professional Obligations

  • Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA): Sets rules for collecting, using, and disclosing health info in Ontario.
  • Chiropody Act, 1991 & Regulated Health Professions Act: Define our scope of practice and professional obligations.
  • College of Chiropodists of Ontario: Provides standards for record-keeping, privacy, and patient relations.
  • Ontario Human Rights Code: Ensures equitable and nondiscriminatory treatment for all patients.
  • Other Applicable Laws: Such as the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), if needed.

5. Security of Your Information

  • We use secure electronic systems and physical safeguards to limit access to your records by authorized staff only.
  • Health records are retained for at least the minimum time required by law (commonly 10 years from the last entry or 10 years after a patient turns 18). After that, records are securely destroyed.
  • Credit card details remain with our secure payment processor; we do not store them on-site.

6. Questions or Complaints

If you have questions about:

  • Your privacy rights
  • Our billing or cancellation policy
  • How we handle or store your health information

Please contact in writting:

Name/Title: Patrick Rainville, CEO, D.Ch
Address: 1086 Riverside Drive, Timmins, ON P4R 1A2
Email: patrick.rainville@rainvillehealth.com

Filing a Complaint:

  • If you believe we have violated your privacy rights or mishandled your personal information, contact us so we can address your concerns.
  • You may also contact the College of Chiropodists of Ontario or the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario if your concern is not resolved.
  • If you feel your human rights under the Ontario Human Rights Code have been violated, you may contact the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.

We do not retaliate against anyone who raises or files a privacy or human rights complaint in good faith.

Last Updated: Feb 2, 2025

This policy remains in effect until it is changed or replaced in accordance with Ontario’s laws, College guidelines, and privacy standards.