As a Registered Massage Therapist, I am responsible for collecting, utilizing, and disclosing your personal information with your written consent. This information may only be used for the purpose for which it was collected. For example, I may use your information to contact you regarding appointments and to provide you with information on other services. If I desire to use this information for other purposes, I must obtain your consent.
Personal health information is collected to assess your health needs, offer options for treatemtn, and to then provide such treatment. This information also provides a baseline health information from which I may form a safe and effective treatment plan and may identify changes over tiem. I am also required to report any serious misconduct or incompetence of another practictioner.
The College of Massage Therapists of Ontario requires me to collect information and keep records. As part of their regulatory activities, they may review my recrods for completeness. In addition, Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, Information and Privacy Commissioner and the Human Rights Commission may examine my records. In the case of a third party coverage of Massage Therapy (i.e. WSIB, Private Insurance etc), your consent is implied and legistlative authority is addressed to me to collect and disclose the required information to demonstrate the clients entitlement to funding.
Your health information is protected in a locked cabinet. I am required to maintain my client records for minimum of 10 years after the last contact with a client. This enables me to respond to any questions or concerns from the client or other agencies. Following the 10 year period, I may destroy the file in a secure manner.
With only a few exemptions, the lcient has the right to see what personal information I have collected regarding your history and care. You may also ask to have a mistake corrected-this applies to factual information or to perfessional opinions that may have formed. In some instances, documentation to confirm changes may be required. If there is a disrepancy, then you may wish to include a statement in your life.
Anytime I need to forward information to a third party, I must obtain your written consent and do my utmost to ensure the information is delivered in a secure manner.
Should you have any questions or concerns, do not hesistate to discuss them with me. Any further information on the privacy act may be obtained at www.privcom.gc.ca.