We collect, use and disclose personal health information in the course of providing health care services and in doing so we have the responsibilities of a health information custodian under the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004. The types of personal information we collect may include your name, date of birth, health history, OHIP number and records of the care provided to you.

This statement provides a general description of the information practices that we employ in acting as a health information custodian and provides other information about the privacy rights you enjoy in receiving health services from Niagara College.

Purposes for which Niagara College collects, uses and discloses personal health information

Niagara College collects, uses and discloses personal health information for the following purposes:

• To provide health services, counselling services and dental services to our students. (Note: Information collected by our accessibility services department is not used for the provision of health care and therefore excluded from this list.)
• To obtain payment for health services provided to you from your provincial health care plan, private insurer or others.
• To conduct quality improvement and risk management activities.
• To plan, administer and manage our internal operations.
• To comply with our regulatory obligations under the Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Act, 2002 and other legislation.
• To fulfill other purposes permitted or required by law.

We will collect, use and disclose only as much personal health information as is needed to achieve these purposes. You can withhold or withdraw your consent to the collection, use or disclosure of your personal health information by contacting us (details below).

How Niagara College uses your information in providing health services

When you seek health services from us, we assume that we have your permission to collect, use and share your personal health information among health service providers inside and outside of Niagara College for the purpose of providing and assisting in providing health services to you. Health service providers inside and outside of Niagara College who do not provide or assist in providing you with health services are generally not allowed to see your health information.

You should let us know if you do not want us to use, share, or give out some or all of your personal health information to individuals who provide you with health services.

Protection of your privacy

Niagara College takes steps to protect your personal health information from theft, loss and unauthorized access, copying, modification, use, disclosure and disposal. We conduct audits and complete investigations to monitor and manage our privacy compliance. We also take steps to ensure that everyone who performs services for us protects your privacy and only uses your personal health information for the purposes to which you have consented.

Risk management and your health information

Niagara College may provide you with both health services and non-health services. Although we do not routinely use health information to deliver our non-health services or manage issues relating to our non-health services, we do have a duty to manage risks appropriately and are permitted by law to use health information for our risk management purposes.

You should understand that we use your health information to manage risks across Niagara College.

Access and correction to your health records

You have a right to seek access to your health records that we keep and to ask us to correct a record if you believe it is inaccurate or incomplete.

Niagara College’s designated contact person

Our designated contact person is the Freedom of Information Coordinator. They can respond to inquiries, requests for access and correction, and privacy complaints.

The Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario

If you have concerns about our privacy practices or how your personal health information has been handled, you have the right to complain to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario:

Information and Privacy Commissioner Ontario
2 Bloor Street East, Suite 1400
Toronto, Ontario M4W 1A8
Phone: 1-800-387-0073
Fax: 416-325-9195
TTY: 416-325-7539
Email: [email protected]