Confidentiality

The Health & Counselling Services shares one unit of confidentiality. This means that divisions of HCS may share your information when necessary for your care.

All records within HCS are confidential. Personal information can only be released outside the Centre with your written consent. Exceptions are only made in the case of life threatening emergencies or as required by law and/or public health regulations, see below for further details about exceptional circumstances.

Collection of lnformation

When you use any HCS service, our staff must collect some personal information about you. In addition, there may be times that we need to obtain information from other health care providers, friends or family in order to provide comprehensive care or service.

In these instances, we will advise you of this need and, except in exceptional circumstances, would collect information from someone other than you only with your consent.

We are authorized under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and other health care related arts, including the Medicare Protection Act, Medical Practitioner's Act, and Health Professionals Act, to collect personal information.

The information we collect may be used for the following purposes:

• Your present and future care or service .
• Continuity of treatment within the Centre
• Quality of care/service review
• Teaching, education and research

Exceptional Circumstances (limits to confidentiality)

The following standard practices regarding confidentiality are very important and we think you should be aware of them as they are prescribed by law. Please discuss any concerns you have about them when you meet with a professional staff member:

1. lf you are under the age of 19 and disclose abuse (sexual and/or physical) by a specific person, the abuse must be reported to the Ministry for Children and Families.
2. If you are over the age of 19 and disclose abuse (sexual and/or physical) by a specific person who has access to people under the age of 19, the abuse must be reported to the Ministry for Children and Families.
3. If there is a serious possibility that you may harm yourself or others, we must take reasonable action, which may include contacting the police or other responsible authorities.
4. lf you are impaired by drugs or alcohol and intend to drive, we must report this to the Motor Vehicle Branch and/or the Police.
5. In some court actions, our professional staff and/or their records may be subpoenaed.

This is not a frequent occurrence, however, you should be aware of this possibility.

The Health & Counselling Services is committed to protecting your privacy.