Dr Dalia Slonim

Privacy of personal information is an important principle in my practice.  I am committed to collecting, using and disclosing personal information responsibly and only to the extent necessary for the services I provide. 

What is Personal Information?  Personal information includes information that relates to a person’s characteristics (e.g. gender, age, income, address or phone number), health; capacity to make decisions; activities and view (e.g., religion, opinions expressed by an individual). 

Reasons for Collecting Information:  Personal information is collected, used and disclosed in order to serve clients. The primary reason for collecting personal information is to provide clinical or professional services.  I rarely collect information without a client’s consent, but this might occur in an emergency or where I believe the client would consent if asked (e.g., a family member passes on a message on from a client). 

I also collect and disclose information to bill clients or t collect unpaid accounts. The cost of some services I provide to clients are pay for by third parties (e.g. insurance companies, The Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee). These third parties payers may have the client’s consent or legislative authority to direct me to collect and disclose certain information.

Protecting Personal Information – Confidentiality:  You have the right to request that I provide information in your file to third parties.  With the exceptions below, personal information is not revealed to anyone without your consent. Below are the situation in which I may be required to release information without consent:

 

• Children at risk of abuse or neglect
• Risk of suicide or serious harm to others
• Sexual abuse by another health professional
• A subpoena by the court
• Professional quality assurance evaluations
• At the request of the college regulating our professional practice

Retention and Destruction of Files:  Psychologists are required to keep files for 10 years or for 10 years after the 18^th birthday of a child under the age of 18 at the time of the provision of service.  Social workers are required to keep files for 7 years.

You Can Review the Information in Your File:  With only a few exceptions, you have the right to see the information in your file.  Before information is provided by mail, my office may need to confirm your identity and you may be required to put your request in writing.  My office reserves the right to charge a nominal fee for requests which incur costs such as photocopying.   If I cannot give you access, my office will advise you within 30 days if possible and tell you the reason why access cannot be given.

If you believe there is a mistake in your file, you have the right to ask for it to be corrected.  This applies to factual information only and not to any professional opinions I may have formed.  Where I agree that I have made a mistake, I will make the correction and notify anyone to whom I have sent the information.  If I do not agree that I have made a mistake, I will include in the file a brief statement from you and I will forward the statement to anyone else who received the earlier information.