Privacy
At Atikokan Health and Community Services, we are committed to protecting the privacy, confidentiality, and security of all personal health information.
Your health information is handled with respect and sensitivity, collected and shared only with those who need it to provide you the best care possible.
Our collection, use and disclosure of your personal health information is done in accordance with Ontario law and is always accessible to you and those who you identify as being involved in your ongoing care.
You have the right to make a written request to our Health Records staff at AHCS to obtain a copy of your health records.
Freedom of Information
The Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) provides a public right of access to information held by hospitals, provides protection of personal information not regulated by Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), regulates how hospitals manage personal information and provides a review process for people who disagree with decisions under the Act. FIPPA applies to hospitals as of January 1, 2012, but is retrospective to January 1, 2007.
The Act requires that hospitals protect the privacy of an individual's personal information existing in hospital records. It also gives individuals the right to request access to hospital information, including most general records and records containing their own personal information not regulated by PHIPA.
These links provide additional information regarding the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Personal Health Information Protection Act.
Privacy Principles
Atikokan Health and Community Services (AHCS) follows these 10 principles in handling personal health information.
- Accountability – AHCS is responsible for personal health information under their control and has designated a Privacy Officer who is accountable for its compliance with the principles.
- Identifying Purposes – AHCS will identify the purposes for which personal health information is collected at or before the time the information is collected.
- Consent – The knowledge and consent of the individual are required for the collection, use and disclosure of personal health information.
- Limiting Collection – AHCS will limit the collection of personal health information to that which is necessary for the purposes identified.
- Limiting Use, Disclosure and Retention – Personal health information will not be used or disclosed for purposes other than that we state. Personal health information will be retained only as long as necessary for the fulfillment of those purposes.
- Accuracy – Personal health information will be as accurate, complete and up-to-date as is necessary for the purposes for which it is to be used.
- Safeguards – Personal health information will be protected by security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information.
- Openness – AHCS will make available to individuals specific information about its policies and practices relating to the management of personal health information.
- Individual Access – Upon request, an individual will be informed of the existence, use and disclosure of his or her personal health information and will be given access to that information. An individual will be able to challenge the accuracy and completeness of the information and have it amended as appropriate.
- Challenging Compliance – An individual will be able to address a challenge concerning compliance with the preceding principles to the designated individual accountable for the organization’s compliance.
You can read about these in more detail by downloading the AHCS Health Privacy Policy.
Privacy Statement
We believe your health information deserves to be treated with respect and sensitivity and that your privacy must be protected. We are committed to protecting the privacy, confidentiality, and security of all personal health information. Access to your personal health information is available to those who are involved in your ongoing care and treatment.
Collection of Personal Health Information
We collect personal health information about you directly from you or from the person acting on your behalf. The personal health information that we collect may include, for example, your name, date of birth, address, health history, records of your visits to AHCS, and the care that you received during those visits. Occasionally we collect personal health information. about you from other sources as permitted by law.
Uses and Disclosures of Personal Health Information
We use and disclose your personal health information to:
- To treat and provide care
- To comply with legal and regulatory requirements
- To obtain payment for your care
- To improve our health services efficiency
- To carry out quality assurance activities to improve care and support TBRHSC research programs, risk management activities, education activities, fundraising and promotion
Personal health information may be disclosed to a prescribed planning entity for the purposes of analysis, or compiling statistics with respect to the management of, evaluation or monitoring of, the allocation of resources to or planning for all or part of the health system without the consent of the patient provided the entity meets requirements outlined in the Personal Health Information Protection Act. Four prescribed planning entities in Ontario are Cancer Care Ontario, Canadian Institute for Health Information, Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences and Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario.
Important Information
- We take steps to protect your personal health information from theft, loss, and unauthorized access, copying, modification, use, disclosure, and disposal.
- We conduct audits and complete investigations to monitor and manage our privacy compliance.
- We take steps to ensure that everyone who performs services for us protect your privacy and only use your personal health information for the purposes you have consented to.
- Your personal health information is in a shared electronic information system and is available to health care providers involved in your care.
Your Personal Health Information Can Be Disclosed to:
- You, your legal guardian or substitute decision maker
- Health care providers involved in your care
- Government agencies [i.e. Workplace Safety & Insurance Board], or if you give your consent, your private insurer to get payment for your treatment or care
- Provincial Electronic Health Records and Health Information Networks [i.e. eHealth ConnectingOntario, Ontario Laboratory Information System (OLIS) and Northern and Eastern Ontario Diagnostic Imaging Network (NEODIN), Integrated Assessment Record (IAR), Electronic Child Health Network (eCHN)].
Your Choices
You may access and correct your personal health records, or withdraw your consent for some of the above uses and disclosures by contacting us ( subject to legal exceptions ). Family physicians routinely receive copies of hospital reports unless you notify us otherwise.
At Atikokan Health and Community Services, we recognize that healing doesn’t happen in isolation - it happens through connection.
At Atikokan Health and Community Services, we are committed to protecting the privacy, confidentiality, and security of all personal health information. Your health information is handled with respect and sensitivity, collected and shared only with those who need it to provide you the best care possible.
Our collection, use and disclosure of your personal health information is done in accordance with Ontario law and is always accessible to you and those who you identify as being involved in your ongoing care.
You have the right to make a written request to our Health Records staff at AHCS to obtain a copy of your health records.
Atikokan Health and Community Services is committed to accommodating the needs of our patients, clients, residents, visitors and staff members through accessible care and an environment of inclusivity.
We understand that delivering the highest quality of care possible is incumbent on ensuring our policies and procedures are consistent with principles of dignity, independence, integration, and equality. We believe in integrating the provision of services to persons with disabilities whenever possible, or exploring alternate measures when necessary, and giving equal opportunities to people with disabilities.
AHCS is continually working to make all of our spaces more accessible to create a barrier-free and fully accessible facility. Our multi-year Accessibility Planning has helped us identify, remove and prevent barriers to individuals with disabilities who live, work in or use our hospital and community sites, including clients and their family members, staff members, health care practitioners, volunteers, residents of and visitors to our community.
Contact Privacy Officer
Questions, concerns, or requests for more information about our privacy policies and practices can be directed to:
Privacy Officer
PO Box 2490, Atikokan, Ontario, P0T 1C0
Email: Please use the form provided
Phone: 1-807-597-4215, ext. 306
Email Us
We will get back to you as soon as possible.
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Emergency Department
The Emergency Department entry is typically locked and visitors must lift the phone handset at the entrance, where a nurse will respond and assist with entry. If the door is already open, please check in at the registration desk before proceeding to visit a patient.
While you’re here, we care for you, too. You can access refreshments in multiple locations:
- A coffee maker and water dispenser are located in the acute care patient kitchen
- The long-term care wing also has a water dispenser
A nurse will be happy to help you find what you need.
Please Note: Temporary Restrictions May Apply
To keep our patients, residents, staff, and community safe, visiting hours or access may change during times of increased risk—such as respiratory illness outbreaks or other health emergencies.
We appreciate your patience and understanding, and we encourage you to call ahead or check our website or social media channels for the most up-to-date visitor information before arriving.
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