Client Privacy
Your health information is intensely personal. That is why Gateway CHC respects your privacy and takes steps to protect it.
In addition to having a policy for dealing with personal health and other personal information in a sensitive manner, we are required by law to ensure that the way we collect, use, retain and disclose clients’ personal health information is carried out in accordance with established principles and requirements of Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004, (“PHIPA”).
Personal Health Information Protection Policy
Client Rights and Responsibilities
Clients are at the centre of everything we do.
At Gateway Community Health Centre, we are dedicated to providing safe, respectful, and inclusive care. Our Client Rights and Responsibilities outline our commitment and how we can work together to support your health, well-being, and care experience.
Clients have the right to:
- Be treated with respect, courtesy and dignity in a safe and secure environment.
- Receive high-quality care regardless of race, culture, ethnicity, religion, spirituality, age, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status or ability.
- Information about the service provided to them, to be told who will be providing the service and informed of the provider’s role.
- Be part of the care team and to receive information to help them make informed decisions and to participate in the planning, review, evaluation and revision of their individualized plan of care.
- Give or refuse consent to the provision of any service and to be informed of the consequences of accepting or refusing treatment.
- Raise concerns or recommend changes in connection with the services provided to them and in connection with policies and decisions that affect their interests to Gateway CHC, government officials, or any other person, without fear of interference, coercion, discrimination, or reprisal.
- Make a complaint, raise concerns or recommend changes without fear of retaliation and to be informed of the procedure to initiate complaints.
- Their records and to have their records kept confidential in accordance with legislative requirements, including the Personal Health Information Protection Act, S.O. 2004, c.3 Schedule. A, and Gateway’s Personal Health Information Protection Policy 2.1.
Clients have the responsibility to:
- Provide relevant information to their health care team.
- Be courteous and respectful of staff, other clients, volunteers, and students.
- Recognize that sometimes the needs of other clients may be more urgent than their own.
- Recognize that providers need not provide any treatment that they consider to be medically or ethically inappropriate.
- Arrive on time for appointments and inform staff within 24 hours if they must cancel their appointment. A no-show policy is in effect. Clients are expected to attend all scheduled appointments or provide advance notice if they need to cancel or reschedule. Failure to attend a scheduled appointment without prior notice may result in consequences. Please respect appointment times and notify us as soon as possible if you are unable to attend.
- Tell their health care team when they do not understand any information provided.
- Accept responsibility for the decisions they make about their care.
- Adhere to the Respect Policy provided in the Intake Package and displayed around the Centre.