At Michael Garron Hospital (MGH), we take your privacy seriously. We are committed to ensuring that staff and patients understand the importance of privacy rights and obligations. The Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) balances an individual’s right to privacy with the need of healthcare providers to access and share this information. PHIPA gives an individual the ability to control how their own personal health information is collected, used and disclosed.
At MGH, we collect personal health information about you directly from you or from the person acting on your behalf. The personal health information we collect may include your name, date of birth, address, health card number and extended health insurance numbers, health history, records of your visits to MGH and the care that you received during those visits. 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.
We use and disclose your personal health information to:
Personal health information is disclosed as necessary for the purpose for which it is collected, with consent, and as required or permitted by law. This includes disclosure to your care providers to ensure continuity and coordination of care. If a patient has provided the doctor’s name, they will be notified if the patient is admitted to hospital and when they are discharged. Copies of reports and diagnostics are also sent to the family doctor. Please tell us if you do not want your family doctor to be notified or provided information about your hospital visit.
Disclosure is also permitted or required to the following:
MGH is a member of the health information networks noted above. These networks permit care providers, with patient consent, to securely share electronic patient health information for the purpose of providing timely and coordinated patient care.
The Electronic Child Health Network (eCHN) is a secure electronic system for children's medical records. About 40 hospitals in Ontario are members of eCHN. Members provide eCHN with laboratory results, doctor's notes, x-rays and visit information as well as name, age, address and contact information. This means that if your child is provided care at any of these 40 facilities, or if your paediatrician has access to the system, the care provider may access their medical record on the electronic system. If you do not want your child's records included in the system, please tell us.
For more information, please visit the Electronic Child Health Network website.
Hospital Diagnostic Image Repository Services (HDIRS) permits hospitals to securely share exams and diagnostic images electronically. This protects patients because it avoids duplication of tests and thereby decreases the number of x-rays and other tests that expose patients to radiation. If you do not want to participate, please tell us.
For more information, please visit the eHealth Ontario website.
Ontario Laboratories Information System (OLIS) is an electronic system managed by eHealth Ontario. It allows hospitals and community laboratories to securely share your lab test results with your healthcare providers. If you do not want your lab tests to be stored in OLIS, please tell us or call Service Ontario at 1-800-291-1406; TTY 1-800-268-7095.
For more information, please visit the Ontario Ministry of Health's website.
Diabetes Testing Report (DTR) is designed to assist people living with diabetes. People with diabetes need to have three tests done every year. Healthcare providers notify the Ministry of Health & Long-Term Care when tests are done and a DTR is created. A paper copy of the DTR is sent to your primary care provider to help ensure you receive the necessary tests every year. If you do not want to participate, please tell us or call Service Ontario at 1-800-291-1405; TTY 1-800-387-5559.
For more information, please visit the Ontario Ministry of Health's website.
GEMINI is a collaborative hospital data and analytics initiative that helps physicians, healthcare teams and hospitals use data to gain insights into patient care and improve patient outcomes. The GEMINI study collects, formats, standardizes and analyzes clinical data from hospitals with the aim of improving how healthcare is delivered. It means, for instance, when you visit MGH your data may be collected and shared for research purposes to improve the future care of our patients.
Data collected from the GEMINI study supports the Ontario General Medicine Quality Improvement Network (GeMQIN), a program of Ontario Health (Quality). This network brings general medicine physicians and care teams together to learn new ways to improve patient care. It also helps address provincial priorities, such as reducing the time patients need to wait for hospital beds. Data is housed at Unity Health Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital. If you do not want your information shared through GEMINI, please tell us. If you have questions about GeMQIN, please contact @email.
For more information, please visit the GEMINI website.
Integrated Assessment Record (IAR) is an electronic system that permits authorized health service providers to securely view a consenting client's assessment information for the purpose of planning and delivering the appropriate services. It supports a client-centred approach to service delivery by strengthening the ability of care providers to collaborate and to coordinate care. Assessments are only shared with consent. Please tell us whether or not you want to participate or call the IAR Consent Management Centre at 1-855-585-5279.
ConnectingOntario is an electronic system which includes a central clinical data repository that stores patient health information collected from multiple healthcare sources. The system is designed to permit healthcare providers to securely share patient information if the patient consents.
It means, for instance, that when you visit MGH, your care provider will be able to view your health records from previous visits to other healthcare organizations that are participating in ConnectingOntario. Access to ConnectingOntario is restricted to those who provide or assist with providing patient care.
This enhanced access will make it easier for patients and their care givers to move more easily through the care journey. The goal is to deliver better, timelier and more coordinated care to each patient. If you do not want your information shared through ConnectingOntario, please tell us.
For more information, please visit the ConnectingOntario website.
Patients in the emergency department are sorted based on their level of urgency. This means that the sickest patients will see a doctor first. Nurses use the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS) to let them know how long a patient can safely wait before they see a doctor.
The electronic CTAS (eCTAS) is a tool that uses the guidelines from CTAS in Ontario hospitals. To improve patient safety and quality of care, some of your personal information will be shared with eCTAS. For example:
Your privacy is important to us. eCTAS has controls in place to make sure your information is safe. If you do not want to participate, please tell us.
MGH uses digital solutions to process personal information (PI) and personal health information (PHI) or other information for the purposes as described. Digital solutions include electronic devices, mobile/web applications, health information systems and assessment tools.
MGH may also use artificial intelligence (AI) applications that process PI or PHI for the purposes described above. The adoption of AI solutions enhances our ability to deliver optimal care. An example of this is the AI transcribing tool used by clinicians in some areas of the hospital.
Similarly, your PI or PHI may be used for data matching. Data matching involves the computerized comparison of databases to allow linkages to be made between your information from sources across the hospital. This activity supports the purposes listed above.
Digital solutions and AI that process PI or PHI, and initiatives using PI or PHI for data matching, are reviewed by MGH's Privacy Office and Information Security Office to ensure they comply with internal policies, privacy laws, and best practices.
MGH may use your PI or PHI to de-identify or anonymize it. This entails modifying your information to remove details that can be used to identify you. De-identified information may be used for non-care purposes, such as quality improvement projects. We take steps to mitigate risks associated with the re-identification of PI and PHI.
You may access, review and make necessary changes to your personal health records. If you are an inpatient, please speak to one of your healthcare providers. If you have been discharged, please contact the Health Records Department.
To withdraw your consent for any listed uses or disclosures, please contact the hospital’s Privacy Officer (subject to legal exceptions).
The Michael Garron Hospital Foundation raises money to enhance the hospital’s programs and services. The foundation may write to you when they are raising money or send you mailings about their services or upcoming special events. If you do not wish to be contacted by the foundation, please let us know at 416-469-6821.
MGH has a comprehensive policy with respect to the use of video recording and photography devices. No photography, video recording or audio recording without express permission is permitted while on hospital property.
