Privacy Policy
The privacy of your personal information is important to our clinic. We are committed to collecting, using and disclosing personal information responsibly and only to the extent necessary for the goods and services we provide.
Like all medical professionals, we collect, use and disclose personal information in order to serve our patients. The primary purpose for collecting personal information is to provide treatment.
Like most organizations, we also collect, use and disclose information for purposes secondary to our primary purposes. The most common examples of our related and secondary purposes is to invoice patients for goods or services that was not paid for at the time, to process credit card payments or to collect unpaid accounts.
The cost of goods/services provided by the organization to patients is often paid for by third parties (e.g. extended health insurance, veteran’s affairs). These third party payers often have the patient’s consent or legislative authority to direct us to collect and disclose certain information in order to demonstrate patient entitlement to this funding.
Patients or other individuals we deal with may have questions about our goods or services after they have been received. We retain patient information for a mandatory minimum of ten years after the last contact.
PROTECTING PERSONAL INFORMATION
We understand the importance of protecting personal information. For that reason, we have taken the following steps:
- Paper information is either under supervision or secured in restricted area.
- Electronic hardware is either under supervision or secure in a restricted area at all times.
- Paper information is transmitted through sealed, addressed envelopes or boxes by reputable companies.
- Electronic information is transmitted either through a direct line or has identifiers removed or is encrypted.
- External consultants and agencies with access to personal information must enter into privacy agreements with me.
YOU CAN LOOK AT YOUR INFORMATION
You have the right to see what personal information we hold about you.
We can help you identify what records we might have about you. We will also try to help you understand any information you do not understand (e.g., short forms, technical language, etc.). A copy of your file may be requested at any time for a flat fee of $25 for the first 5 pages and $0.50 per page thereafter.
PRIVACY POLICY
Effective January 1, 2004, the government implemented the personal information protection and electronic documents act (PIPEDA). Our privacy policies regarding this act are listed in this form.
Regarding this policy, we require your informed consent. This means that we want you to understand the services we hope to provide to you, the cost involved, and what we do with personal information obtained about you. We ensure that only necessary information is collected; we only share your information with your consent; storage, retention and destruction of your personal information complies with existing professional legislation and privacy protection protocols; our privacy protocols comply with privacy legislation, standards of our regulatory body (College of Massage Therapists of Ontario) and the law.
This clinic understands the importance of protecting your personal information. To help you understand how we are doing that, we have outlined how our organization is using and disclosing your information. This clinic will collect, use and disclose information about you for the following purposes:
- To deliver safe and effective patient care
- To identify and ensure continuous high quality service
- To assess your health care needs
- To provide health care
- To advise you of treatment options
- To enable us to contact you
- To establish and maintain communication with you
- To offer and provide treatment, care and service in relationship to your health
- To communicate with other treating health care providers involved in your treatment
- To allow us to maintain communication and contact with you and to distribute health care information and to book and confirm appointments
- To allow us to efficiently follow-up for treatment, care and billing
- To complete and submit claims for third party adjudication and payment
- To forward necessary medical/legal reports to your insurance company, lawyer and/or doctor(s)
- To invoice for goods and services
- To assist this clinic to comply with all regulatory requirements
- To ensure general compliance with the law
If you have any questions regarding our Privacy Policies please do not hesitate to ask, and we will answer them to your satisfaction.
OFFICE POLICY
- I am aware that 24 hours notice is required for all cancelled or rescheduled appointments. Cancellation Policy: Less than 24 hours notice will result in 50% cancellation fee. No shows and less than 2 hours notice will be charged the full service fee. We recommend finding a friend or family member to take your spot if you have to cancel within the 24 hour window, to avoid a cancellation fee. Also, if we are able to fill that spot, the fee will be waived.
- I agree to pay the full fee of the treatment at the scheduled appointment. If payment is to be made by extended health insurance and comes back denied, I agree to make payment in a timely manner.
- I am aware my treatment time includes: consent, assessment and discussion of conditions, massage and demonstrations of self-care.