Jessica’s House Hospice recognizes the importance of privacy of personal information for all stakeholders of the organization. The volunteers and staff at Jessica’s House are bound by the law and ethics to safeguard the privacy and the confidentiality of ALL personal information.
This privacy policy governs the collection, use, disclosure, retention, and destruction of all personal information. This information will not be used or disclosed for purposes other than that for which it was collected, except by written consent.
Jessica’s House strives to provide clients with excellent medical care and service, as well as provide all stakeholders the assurance that personal information obtained is protected in compliance with the law.
All staff, and volunteers of Jessica’s House Hospice must abide by our commitment to privacy in the handling of personal information. To ensure this accountability, Jessica’s House Hospice ensures training for all staff concerning all privacy policies and procedures.
Jessica’s House approach to privacy and access encompasses the following 10 privacy principles, adopted from the Canadian Standard Association:
Principle 1 – Accountability: Jessica’s House is responsible for both PHI and PI under its custody and control and has designated an individual(s) who is accountable for ensuring compliance with PHIPA and FIPPA. The designated Privacy Officer and privacy contact person for Jessica’s House is the Executive Director (ED).
Principle 2 – Identifying Purpose(s): Jessica’s House Hospice requests information to establish a relationship and provide service to our community in programming, resident care, charitable giving, and stakeholder partnerships. All stakeholders are entitled to know how personal information is used by our organization and this is described in the Privacy Statement posted at www.jessicashouse.ca. Jessica’s House will make reasonable efforts to identify, in a meaningful way the purpose for which PHI and PI is collected at or before the time of collection, to the individual and/or substitute decision maker (SDM).
Principle 3 – Consent for Collection, Use and Disclosure: Jessica’s House will rely on implied consent, where appropriate, or obtain express consent from the individual or SDM when collecting, using or disclosing PHI or PI unless otherwise exempted by a specific policy, data sharing agreement or legislation. Consent may be obtained verbally or in writing. To make the consent meaningful, the purpose(s) must be stated in such a manner that the individual can reasonably understand how the information will be used or disclosed.
Principle 4 – Limiting Collections: Jessica’s House will not collect PHI indiscriminately and will limit the collection of personal information/personal health information to that which is necessary, for the identified purpose or for the purpose that PHIPA or FIPPA permits or requires. Both the amount and the type of information will be limited to that which is necessary to fulfill the purposes identified.
Principle 5 – Limiting Use, Disclosure and Retention: PHI and PI in all forms; verbal, written, electronic, printed will not be used or disclosed for purposes other than those for which it was collected, except with the consent of the individual or as required by law.
Principle 6 – Accuracy: Jessica’s House will take reasonable steps to ensure that PHI and PI are accurate, complete, and up to date as is necessary to minimize the possibility that inappropriate information may be used to decide about an individual for the purposes for which it is used or disclosed.
Principle 7 – Safeguards: Jessica’s House Hospice protects information with appropriate safeguards and security measures.
Principle 8 – Openness: Jessica’s House makes readily available to the public, in a variety of ways, information about its policies and practices relating to the management of PHI and PI. The organization’s public statements (information practices) will be in place for public viewing such as the organization’s website and will include:
- A general description of the information practices.
- The name or title, and the address, of the person who is accountable for the privacy policies and practices and to whom complaints or inquiries
- The means of gaining access to PHI or (PI) held by Jessica’s House
Principle 9 – Individual Access to PHI or PI: Upon request, and after providing sufficient identification, the individual will be informed of the existence, use, and disclosure of his or her PHI or PI and will be given access to that information in a manner consistent with PHIPA and FIPPA.
Principle 10 – Challenging Compliance: An individual will be able to address concerns regarding compliance with this policy to the Privacy Officer (PO) or designated individual(s) accountable for Jessica’s House Hospice compliance. An individual may contact the Privacy Officer (ED) at: directorofcare@jessicashouse.ca 519-235-0941