Your Privacy Is Protected

GPCSO holds three types of information – health information, general records and personal information. Access to and privacy of each type of information is governed by specific legislation in Ontario.

We take steps to protect your personal information from theft, loss, unauthorized access, copying, modification, use, disclosure and disposal.

We conduct audits and complete investigations to monitor and manage our privacy compliance.

We take steps to ensure that everyone who performs services for us protects your privacy and only uses your personal information for the purposes you have consented to.

Collecting Personal Health Information

Protecting patient privacy is not only the law, but it is an essential part of Geriatric Psychiatry Community Services of Ottawa’s commitment to treating our patients/clients with dignity, compassion and social responsibility. Protecting your personal health information is about quality of care and treating others the way we want to be treated.

Geriatric Psychiatry Community Services of Ottawa follows the legal requirements for the collection, use and disclosure of personal health information as outlined in Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA). We are committed to keeping your information safe and confidential. We respect your right to access or request a correction to your health information and your right to withdraw your consent for the collection, use and disclosure of your personal health information at any time. To learn more about our use and disclosure of personal health information, please refer to our Privacy Notice.

Your legal representatives and you are permitted access to your health record, but only with appropriate authorization and in the presence of the attending physician, a member of the interdisciplinary care team or the Privacy Officer. To request access to your personal health record, please contact our clinic at 613-562-9777.

 At Geriatric Psychiatry Community Services of Ottawa, we collect personal health information about you directly from you or from the person acting on your behalf. The personal health information that we collect may include, for example, your photograph (for identification purposes), name, date of birth, address, health history, health records of your visits and care you received at Geriatric Psychiatry Community Services of Ottawa. Occasionally, we collect personal health information about you from other sources if we have obtained your consent to do so or if the law permits.

Uses and Disclosures of Personal Health Information

Geriatric Psychiatry Community Services of Ottawa may use and disclose your personal health information to:

  • Treat and care for you
  • Conduct risk management activities
  • Teach
  • Conduct research
  • Compile statistics
  • Comply with legal and regulatory requirements
  • Plan, administer and manage internal operations
  • Obtain payment for your treatment and care (from OHIP, WSIB, your private insurer or others)
  • Conduct quality improvement activities (such as sending patient satisfaction surveys)
  • Fulfil other purposes permitted or required by law
  • Facilitate the adoption of regional and provincial electronic health records. As these systems are put into place to improve safety and quality of care, your personal health information will be stored and shared securely on health information databases accessible only by authorized health care providers

We may disclose your contact information to our Foundation, so that they may conduct fundraising to improve our services.

Your Privacy Rights

You may access and correct your personal health records, or withdraw your consent for some of the above uses and disclosure by contacting us (subject to legal exceptions, such as where disclosures are required by law).

For more information or to raise a concern about our practices, contact :

Privacy and Access to Information Officer

 Geriatric Psychiatry Community Services of Ottawa

75 Bruyère St, suite 127Y

Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5C7

 Email  :  vdemers@bruyere.org

 Telephone: 613-562-9777

You have the right to complain to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario if you think we have violated your rights by contacting :

Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario

 2 Bloor Street East, Suite 1400

Toronto, Ontario M4W 1A8

 Email : info@ipc.on.ca

Telephone:  416-326-3333   Toll Free : 1-800-387-0073

Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario

Information for Patients for Virtual Care

COVID-19 is placing stress on Canada’s public health system. Our clinic is starting to offer virtual care to make sure that we can continue to care for our patients safely and effectively. This means that we will be using video and audio technologies for some patient visits rather than asking all patients to come into our office. Some of these technologies are provided by the Province. Others have been provided by vendors like Google, or Apple to help make discussions with your care provider as easy as possible during these difficult times. Some health concerns can be addressed with virtual care alone, but in some cases your doctor may ask you to visit a hospital or other health care facility if necessary, for a physical examination.

We do our best to make sure that any information you give to us during virtual care visits is private and secure, but no video or audio tools are ever completely secure. There is an increased security risk that your health information may be intercepted or disclosed to third parties when using video or audio communications tools. To help us keep your information safe and secure, you can:

  • Understand that this method of communication is not secure in the same way as a private appointment in an exam room

  • Use a private computer/device (i.e., not an employer’s or third party’s computer/device) and a secure internet connection. For example, using a personal computer or tablet is more secure than at a library, and your access to the Internet on your home network will generally be more secure than an open guest Wi-Fi connection


You should also understand that virtual care is not a substitute for in-person communication or clinical examinations, where appropriate, or for attending the Emergency Department when needed (including for any urgent care that may be required).

If you are concerned about using video or audio tools for virtual care, you can ask our office to arrange for you to visit a different healthcare provider or other health care center where you can be seen in person. However, please note that visiting a health care provider in person comes with a higher risk of coming into contact with COVID-19 and the possibility of spreading the virus.

By providing your information, you agree to let us collect, use, or disclose your personal health information through video or audio communications (while following applicable privacy laws) in order to provide you with care. In particular, the following means of electronic communication may be used (identify all that apply):
- videoconferencing (including Skype, Facetime, Zoom, etc.)

ConnectingOntario

The ConnectingOntario ClinicalViewer is a secure, provincial electronic health record (EHR) system that allows Ontario clinicians, and authorized members of their health care teams, to access their patients’ personal health information (e.g. lab results, diagnostic imaging reports, discharge summaries, details of a prior visit to the emergency or other department). Access to the viewer is restricted to those who provide or assist with patient care. The program is funded and overseen by eHealth Ontario. For more information visit the ConnectingOntario website.

Geriatric Psychiatry Community Services of Ottawa is a contributing organization and will provide its health care providers with access to the provincial EHR portal through the ConnectingOntario Clinical Viewer. This is done to improve the patient experience and ensure that hospital patients receive the care that we would want for our loved ones.

Geriatric Psychiatry Community Services of Ottawa, along with all other organizations participating in the ConnectingOntario program, must follow all applicable health information privacy laws (including the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004) as well as the EHR privacy policies and procedures.

Consent Directives

You have the right to block access to your personal health record in the viewer by placing a consent directive (often referred to as a lock-box). It is best to discuss the implications of placing a consent directive with a member of your treatment team. Please note that a consent directive may be overridden with your express consent, or in other circumstances permitted by law. For more information, please contact our Privacy Officer at 613-562-9777 or vdemers@bruyere.org . Alternatively, you may forward your request to eHealth Ontario directly by filling out the Consent Directive Request Form.

Access and Correction

You have the right to request copies of your health records contained in the viewer or request that your record be corrected if you believe it contains an error. Please contact our Privacy Officer if your request relates to information about a previous visit to Geriatric Psychiatry Community Services of Ottawa. For all other access or correction requests in the EHR, please refer to the eHealth Ontario website to fill out the Request for Access and Correction Form.

Inquiries and Complaints

For privacy-related inquiries and complaints about Geriatric Psychiatry Community Services of Ottawa’s participation in the ConnectingOntario program, please contact our Privacy Officer at 613-562-9777 or vdemers@bruyere.org. For all other inquiries and complaints about the EHR program or the viewer, please refer to the eHealth Ontario website.

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