Privacy Policy

Your privacy is important to us. Helping Hands Healthcare is committed to maintaining the privacy, security and accuracy of the personal information they collect, use and disclose in accordance with applicable legislation. This privacy policy is a statement of principles and guidelines concerning the protection of personal information of our individual clients, individual service providers and other individuals.

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1. What personal information do we collect?

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Canadian privacy legislation defines personal information broadly as information about “an identifiable individual” or as information that allows an individual to be identified. The types of personal information that we may collect from you from time to time include: your name, address, telephone number, email address, health information/limitations, banking information SIN, date of birth (for payroll purposes), qualifications, contact information.

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In addition, from time to time, we may ask you to provide us with more detailed information regarding your interests, occupation and background. For example, we sometimes ask our customers/employees to complete surveys in order to get a better sense of who they are and what issues or services may be of interest to them.

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2. Why do we collect your personal information?

 

We collect your personal information for the purposes listed below:

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• To provide a suitable placement.

• To process payments.

• To send you information.

• To follow federal and provincial laws.

• For research and education.

• To measure our quality of care.

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In addition, if we want to use your personal information for any other reason we will ask consent.

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3. To whom do we disclose your personal information?

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We may disclose your personal information to the following third parties in the following circumstances:

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• Healthcare workers, including Unit Managers, nurses, personal support workers and office staff.

• People you have given us consent to share this information with.

• Hospitals and agencies involved in your care or placement with your consent.

• Other organizations as required by law.

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What are your rights?

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• You may see your personal records.

• You may have a copy of your records.

• You may ask us to correct your records.

• You always have the option to instruct us not to use your name, address, email address, etc., beyond providing you with the service or information you requested.

• Your personal information is only shared with your consent and when required by law.

• You may complain to the Privacy Officer (Faye Lorraine Roy).

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In addition, from time to time, we may ask you to provide us with more detailed information regarding your interests, occupation, and background. For example, we sometimes ask our customers/employees to complete surveys in order to get a better sense of who they are and what issues or services may be of interest to them.

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Why do we collect your personal information?

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Principle 1 – Accuracy of Personal Information

Helping Hands Healthcare will endeavour to ensure that your personal information will be as accurate, complete and up-to-date as is necessary for the purposes for which it is to be used. Helping Hands Healthcare will update personal information as and when necessary to fulfill the identified purposes or upon notification from the subject individual. HHNS will not routinely update personal information, unless such process is necessary to fulfill the identified purposes. If ever your contact and/or other personal information changes please feel free to contact us, so that we can update our records.

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Principle 2 – Accountability

Helping Hands Healthcare Inc. is responsible for personal information under its control and has designated a Privacy Officer who is designated to ensure compliance with all policies, procedures and regulations.

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Principle 3 – Consent for Collection, Use or Disclosure of Personal Information

Helping Hands Healthcare. will obtain your informed consent for the collection, use, or disclosure of your personal information except as permitted by law. In certain circumstances personal information can be collected used or disclosed without the knowledge or consent of an individual, for example, seeking consent may be impossible or inappropriate when the individual is a minor or found to be seriously ill and requiring emergency intervention. When in formation is being collected for the investigation of fraud, disciplinary matters or law enforcement, seeking consent may defeat the purpose. HHNS will make every effort to ensure the individual is advised of the purpose for which the information will be used. A specific consent Policy and Procedure is in place. Individuals may withdraw consent at any time. Please note, however, that in some circumstances, we may not be able to provide you with our services if you withdraw your consent to our use of your personal information

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Principle 4 – Challenging Compliance

Any individual have the right to address a challenge concerning compliance with this Privacy Policy to helping Hands Healthcare Privacy Officer.

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Principle 5 – Identifying the Purposes for Collection of Personal Information

Helping Hands Healthcare will identify the purposes for which your personal information is collected, used, disclosed and retained at or before the time the personal information is collected. Some of the identified purposes for which this information is collected includes: direct patient care, research statistics, and health care management, and employer/employee relationship management, legal and regulatory requirements. If we intend to collect, use or disclose your personal information for additional purposes, we will seek your consent.

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Principle 6 – Individual Access to Personal Information

Upon written request, an individual will be informed of the existence, use disclosure of his or her personal information and will give you access to that information. Helping Hands will give you a reasonable opportunity to review your personal information. You will be able to challenge the accuracy and completeness of the information and have it amended as appropriate.

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Principle 7 – Limiting the use, disclosure and retention

Helping Hands Healthcare will not use or disclose personal information for purposes other than the identified purposes for which it was collected, except with your consent or as required or permitted by law. Helping Hands Healthcare will retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the identified purposes.

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Principle 8 – Limiting Collection of Personal Information

Helping Hands Healthcare will limit the collection of personal information, both the amount and the type of information, to that which is necessary for the purposes identified by Helping Hands Healthcare. In addition, Helping Hands Healthcare will collect your personal information by fair and lawful means, and not by misleading or deceiving you about the purpose for which information is being collected.

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Principle 9 – Openness Concerning Policies and Practices

Helping Hands Healthcare will make readily available to individuals information about our policies and practices relating to the management of personal information through our website and as well as in written form upon request.

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Principle 10 – Security Safeguards

Helping Hands Healthcare will protect your personal information by security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information. We will protect personal information regardless of the format in which it is held.

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Some methods of protection used include, but are not limited to:

• Computer servers on which we store your personal information are protected by firewalls and other industry standard security features.

• Filing cabinets are locked with restricted office access.

• Shredding of all paper documentation to be disposed.

• After hours alarm monitoring and locked offices.

• Limited access to office building after hours.

• Video surveillance throughout the office (office staff aware of cameras).

• Technology: Computer, software protection, Passwords and access controls.

• Confidentiality agreement renewals Q 6 months.