Privacy Policy

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Respecting your privacy is very important to us. In accordance with the federal and provincial guidelines set forth, we have developed a plan to safely accumulate, protect, and disclose information such that the rights of each individual patient are met.

Collection of Information

• We recognize that personally identifiable information must be collected with consent and for a reasonable purpose

• Such information may include but is not limited to: age, name, medical records, evaluations, comments, and health history

• Details of consent are thoroughly explained in our health intake forms, but you will have an opportunity to review them with us so we can document both oral and written consent

Informed Consent 

• The consent will not be obtained through misrepresentation or fraud; it will relate to treatment, be informed, and be received voluntarily

• We establish informed consent by explaining the nature of the treatment to you, expected benefits, risks, side effects, alternative courses of action, and likely consequences of not having treatment

• If a legal representative is required for the client, details will be explained to them as well, and their presence will be permitted during treatments

Use of Information

• We will not use your personal details for any other purpose than to aid in the delivery of safe and effective treatment

• Safe and effective treatment is established by assessing your health concerns, providing care, maintaining contact with you, and efficiently booking appointments

• Your information is required for the purpose of billing, verifying insurance claims, and collecting on unpaid accounts

• We also acknowledge that your information allows us to comply with our regulatory body, The Canadian Alliance of Alternative Medicine

• Please note, your information may be used for other purposes if, and only if we have your shared consent to do so, or it is required by law

• Examples of situations that may legally require us to disclose information are: when reporting misuse of services, when summoned in a lawsuit, when reporting particular diseases, or when invoicing provincial health plans. 

Storage and Protection

• Our clinics take a number of precautions to ensure that your information is safeguarded from security breaches

• Clinic access is reserved for only those who have booked appointments and been screened ahead of time

• Doors are kept locked, and the clinic space is protected via security systems such as alarms and cameras

• Information is stored in locked cabinets, or on secured and approved data collection software

• Clinic layout allows for minimal sound travel so patients feel comfortable disclosing personal details 

Administrative Safeguards

• Office administration practices use the same discretion outlined above when communicating and maintaining personal privacy

• Phone calls, emails, and faxes will consider individual preferences. 

• Emails will not be used for private messages containing sensitive information unless consented by the patient (i.e. patient initiating the email chain or verbally requesting the info)

• Records are retained for at least 10 years from the date of last visit, or for minors, 10 years from the date they turn 18. These guidelines are set in place by lawmakers and various regulatory bodies

• Expiration of the 10 year timeline requires proper disposal of your files which may include paper shredding and media storage deletion

• Disposal will be logged such that the client's name, duration of the destroyed document, disposal method, and the individual overseeing disposal are all recorded

Personal Access to Details

• Patients requesting a duplicate of their health file may be offered one for a reasonable price determined by the clinic

• In the event a patient wishes to see the original file, a health care custodian must be present to ensure integrity of the document; a fee may be applied for this access

• A receipt of the request will be administered following the transaction

• While patients deserve to access their health files, we reserve the right to restrict access in very select scenarios, i.e. when the information could seriously impact the mental or physical well-being of the patient or another individual close to the patient

• If the patient suspects there is an error in their health file, they can request a correction and this will be annotated for future reference

Withdrawal of Consent

• Our patients have the power to determine consent and their own level of comfort

• Common concerns that vary from patient to patient may include the level of disrobing or contact with sensitive areas (i.e. gluteus muscles, sternum, ribs)

• Patients may elect to consent or not consent to certain treatment techniques, and in some cases, end the treatment altogether

• Overall consent may be withdrawn with written notice to the clinic, meaning any future treatments will require new documentation