All individuals who collect, maintain, handle and use personal health information are required to protect the confidentiality of that information. The Primary Medical Services Standard of Practice details procedures for the collection, retention, storage, security access, disclosure, transmittal, reproduction, and destruction of identifiable personal health information held by Primary Medical Services Inc. This information could pertain to personal health information related to occupational health, and includes all referral correspondence either outbound from Primary Medical Services Inc. or inbound from a referral agency or other service provider. All staff members, whether permanent or temporary, and including contract personnel hired to act on behalf of Primary Medical Services Inc., have the responsibility to be in compliance with this Standard of Practice on Management of Personal Health Information. The Standard applies at all times when interpreting personal health information. It is critical that privileged information not be divulged at any time except where expressly stated in the Standard.
The Standard Practice covers the following areas:
- General Principles
- Collection of Personal Health Information
- Procedures for the Collection of Information
- Receipt of Information Through the Mail
- Record Retention, Storage, and Security
- Accessibility
- Disclosure of Information to a Department
- External Disclosure
- Reproduction and Transmittal
- Disposal of Records
- Misuse of Personal Health Information
- Administration Responsibility
The Standard of Practice is reviewed/revised annually by Primary Medical Services' Occupational Health Clinic Coordinator. All employees are required to review the Standard of Practice.
