About the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA)
The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act is a provincial legislation that applies to all hospitals effective January 1, 2012.
FIPPA has two main principals:
- To provide the public with access to information held in the custody and control of the hospital.
- To protect the privacy of individuals with respect to personal information that is held by the hospital.
Hanover and District Hospital:
- Supports transparency through public access to information
- Believes that personal information and privacy must be protected to ensure the dignity and integrity of the individual.
FIPPA applies to any records that are in the custody or control of the hospital. Under FIPPA certain records cannot be accessed and these exclusions include:
- Records relating to the operations of the hospital foundation
- Administrative records of members of a health profession listed in the Regulated Health Professions Act 1991 that relate to the member’s personal practice
- Records relating to certain labour relations, employment and placement matters
- Records relating to certain appointment and privileging matters
- Records relating to research and teaching materials.
There are also specific exemptions where parts of the records or the entire record cannot be disclosed and these include:
- Advice or recommendation
- Law enforcement
- Economic and other interests of the hospital
- Certain information related to the quality of health care in a hospital
- Information with respect to closed meetings
- Legally privileged information
- Danger to safety or health
- Third party information
Hospital records are also governed by two other provincial legislated Acts that include:
- Personal Health Information (as defined in the -Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA)
- Quality of Care Information as defined in the Quality of Care Information Protection Act (QCIPA)
There are very specific requirements under FIPPA for the collection, use, protection and disclosure of personal information. There is a right to ask for your own personal information and to request that the information be corrected where it is incomplete, incorrect, or misleading.
Hanover and District Hospital is committed to openness and transparency. Before submitting a formal request for a record(s) in writing, we encourage you, as in the past, to contact either the President/CEO or the FOI Coordinator to determine if we can deal with your request informally. The informal process is done without any fees associated. However, you are free to make your request under FIPPA by following the following process.
How to Make an Information Request under FIPPA
- A Freedom of Information (FOI) request is a written request for a record that was in the custody or control of Hanover and District Hospital ON or AFTER January 1, 2007.
- FOI requests involving records BEFORE January 1, 2007 are not subject to FIPPA. This kind of request will be treated as an informal request.
Click here for:
For information on how to correct your personal information or make a privacy complaint under FIPPA, click on the links below.
How to correct personal information under FIPPA
How to make a privacy complaint under FIPPA
Privacy Complaint Form (FIPPA Form #24)
Under the Act, Hanover and District Hospital may charge the requester set fees associated with the search and processing of records. For details please click here.
Directory of Records:
Directory of Records
Personal Information Bank
Additional Resources:
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90f31_e.htm
Ontario’s Information and Privacy Commissioner
http://www.ipc.on.ca/english/Home-Page/
Regulation 459 – Disposal of Personal Information
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/regs/english/elaws_regs_900459_e.htm
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