Client Declaration of Values
In living our mission of enabling health through healing, hope and wellness; the Health Centre is committed to placing our clients at the centre of care. This declaration of client values says what the client can count on when participating in Health Centre services, programs and activities:
As a client, I have the right to:
- Quality care and treatment that is evidence-based and in a safe environment consistent with available resources and generally accepted standards.
- Considerate and respectful care, with recognition of personal dignity.
- A communication process to listen, ask, and respond.
- An explanation of care concerning my diagnosis, treatment, procedures, and prognosis of illness in terms I can understand.
- Be advised of information needed in order to make knowledgeable decisions on consent or refusal of treatments. Such information should include significant complications, risks, benefits, and alternative treatments available.
- Refuse treatment to the extent permitted legally and to be informed of the consequences of my refusal.
- Privacy and confidentiality, within the law, concerning healthcare. I or my legal designated representatives have access to the information contained in the medical records, within the limit of the law.
- Be informed of the facility’s rules and regulations, including those pertinent to conduct.
- Be informed of the complaint process and submit a complaint.
Client Responsibilities
Staff and volunteers commit to working in partnership with clients, who in turn are expected to uphold certain responsibilities:
- To keep appointments to the best of your ability or cancel them in a timely fashion (48 hours notice).
- To follow mutually agreed upon treatment plans.
- To let the Health Centre know if you are no longer following treatment plans.
- To disclose important information necessary for your care - including the use of outside healthcare providers.
- To follow community group guidelines developed for healthy group interactions.
- To attend to personal hygiene issues prior to coming to the Health Centre.
- To refrain from attending the Health Centre while intoxicated or under the influence of illegal substances.
- To respect the professional relationship with Health Centre providers and program leaders.
- To behave in a respectful and non-threatening manner towards staff and other clients of the Health Centre.
Privacy
Compass Community Health - Commitment to Privacy
We understand that your health issues are private. To best serve you, all Compass Community Health team members are committed to protecting your personal health information, privacy, and individual confidentiality.
Collection, use and sharing of your health information
We collect personal health information about you directly from you or from the person acting on your behalf. The personal health information that we collect may include, for example, your name, date of birth, address, health history, family health history, details of the physical and mental health records of your visits to other care providers, and the care that you received during those visits and results from tests and or procedures. Occasionally, we will collect personal health information about you from other sources if we have obtained your consent or if the law permits.
We collect, use and share your personal health information to:
- Treat and care for you;
- Deliver our programs;
- Plan, administer, and manage our internal operations;
- Provide Reminders and Notifications regarding your appointments & screenings;
- Conduct risk management and quality improvement activities;
- Educate our staff;
- Compile statistics;
- Allow for the analysis, administration, and management of the Health Information system;
- Comply with legal and regulatory requirements;
- Fulfill other purposes permitted or required by law;
- Conduct research; and
- Improve client safety, reduce wait times, avoid duplicate testing and enhance timely access to health care through shared health information databases.
Your choices
You may access and correct your personal health records or withdraw your consent for some of the above uses and disclosures by contacting Compass Community Health (subject to legal exceptions). You can do this by speaking with the front reception staff.
Important information
We take steps to protect your personal health information from theft, loss, and unauthorized access, copying, modification, use, disclosure, and disposal.
We conduct audits and complete investigations to monitor and manage our privacy compliance.
We take steps to ensure that everyone who works or performs services for us protects your privacy and only use your personal health information for the purposes you have consented to.
Our collection, use, and disclosure (sharing) of your personal health information are done in accordance with Ontario law. When we require and ask for your consent, you may choose to say no. If you say yes, you may change your mind at any time. Once you say no, we will no longer share your information unless you say so.
However, there are cases where we may collect, use or disclose your health information without your consent, as allowed or required by law. For example, we do not need your consent to disclose personal health information to eliminate or reduce a significant risk of serious bodily harm, or to fulfill other mandatory reporting requirements such as for child protection or safe operation of a motor vehicle.
Questions or concerns
We encourage you to contact us with any questions or concerns you might have about our privacy practices. You can reach our Privacy Officer Ram Shankar at:
Compass Community Health
438 Hughson Street North
Hamilton, ON L8L 4N5
Telephone: 905-523-6611 x3030 Email: rshankar@compassch.org
You also have the right to contact the following:
Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
2 Bloor Street East, Suite 1400
Toronto, ON M4W 1A8
Telephone: 1-800-387-0073 Email: info@ipc.on.ca
Privacy Resources
Click here to view policy on appointing a Chief Privacy Officer
Click here to view Chief Privacy Officer Job Description