Privacy Policy

PHIPA Compliance

Ottawa Dentist is committed to protecting your personal health information in accordance with the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), 2004 of Ontario. We understand the sensitive nature of health information and take our responsibility to safeguard your privacy seriously.

PHIPA governs the collection, use, and disclosure of personal health information by health information custodians in Ontario. As your dental care provider, we are legally required to protect your health information and use it only for authorized purposes.

Information We Collect

We collect and maintain the following types of information:

• Personal identification information (name, address, phone number, email)
• Health card and insurance information
• Medical and dental history
• Treatment records and clinical notes
• X-rays and diagnostic images
• Billing and payment information

How We Use Your Information

Your personal health information is used for:

• Providing dental care and treatment
• Billing and insurance processing
• Appointment scheduling and reminders
• Quality assurance and improvement
• Legal and regulatory compliance

We will never sell or share your information for marketing purposes without your explicit consent.

Disclosure of Information

We may disclose your personal health information:

• With your written consent
• To other healthcare providers involved in your care
• To insurance companies for billing purposes
• When required by law (e.g., public health reporting, court orders)
• To protect against serious threats to health or safety

Your Rights

Under PHIPA, you have the right to:

• Access your personal health information
• Request corrections to your health information
• Request a review of a denied access request
• File a complaint with the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
• Receive an accounting of disclosures
• Request restrictions on how we use or disclose your information

Security Measures

We implement comprehensive physical, technical, and administrative safeguards to protect your personal health information:

• Secure, encrypted electronic health records systems
• Restricted access to patient information
• Staff training on privacy and security
• Secure disposal of records
• Regular security audits and updates

Retention of Records

We retain your dental records in accordance with the requirements set by the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO). Adult patient records are retained for a minimum of 10 years from the date of last service. Pediatric records are retained until the patient reaches the age of 28.

Website Privacy

Our website may collect non-personal information through cookies and analytics tools to improve user experience. We do not collect personal health information through our website without your knowledge and consent.

Contact Us

If you have questions about our privacy practices or wish to exercise your rights under PHIPA, please contact our Privacy Officer:

Privacy Officer
Ottawa Dentist
123 Bank Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A1
Phone: (613) 555-1234
Email: privacy@ottawadentist.net

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The most current version will always be available on our website with the date of last update clearly indicated.