Privacy

CMHA and your Personal Health Information

Canadian Mental Health Association Lambton Kent Branch (CMHA LK) is committed to the protection of your privacy and personal health information. The personal health information we collect, use and disclose includes information such as your name, date of birth, gender, address, mental and physical health history, as well as other information to help determine your current and needed treatment and support needs. We have privacy policies in place that comply with relevant legislation including the Personal Health Information and Protection Act (PHIPA); these policies determine the way personal health information may be collected, used and disclosed.

Your knowledge and consent is required for the collection, use and disclosure of personal health information, except where defined by law. When you request and accept admission to our programs you are giving your consent to CMHA to properly use your personal health information. For purposes other that providing health care (for example when assisting you with housing or landlord issues, employment issues, or when needing to speak with family or friends) we must get your verbal or written permission.

Collecting, Using and Disclosing Personal Health Information:

Unless we are informed otherwise, we will assume that we have our your consent to:

• collect and use personal health information for the purpose of health care, administration,  teaching, research, statistics and complying with legal requirements;
• disclose information to health care providers within your “circle of care” who need the information to provide health care. Your “circle of care” includes those health care professionals, pharmacies, laboratories, ambulance service, nursing homes, Community Care Access Centres and home service providers who provide you with healthcare services; and
• use your name and address to contact you for fundraising purposes. You are entitled to ask not to be contacted for Fundraising.

In some circumstances we are required or permitted by law to collect, use or disclosure your personal health information without your consent.

Your Choices

You may withdraw your consent or restrict the way that we collect, use, or share your personal health information by contacting us. You may also request access to or the correction of your personal health information by contacting us.

Protecting Your Privacy

We take steps to protect your personal health information from theft, loss and unauthorized access, copying, modification, use, disclosure and disposal. We conduct audits of our procedures and complete investigations to monitor and manage our privacy compliance. We take steps to ensure that everyone who performs services for us will protect your privacy and use your personal health information only for the purposes you have consented to or as required by law.

Contact Information

If you have questions, concerns or complaints about the privacy of your personal health information contact:

Stephen Mitchell, Chief Privacy Officer
CMHA Lambton Kent Branch
100-240 Grand Ave West,
Chatham, Ontario N7L 1C1
Tel: 519-436-6100

Click here to access our Client Feedback Form 

If you have a privacy complaint and the CMHA Privacy Officer cannot resolve your concerns, you have the right to contact the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario at 1-800-387-0073, by mail: 2 Bloor St. E., Suite 1400, Toronto, ON, M4W 1A8 or through their website: www.ipc.on.ca.

This Privacy Statement may be updated from time to time.