Privacy and Your Personal Health Information

Health PEI is committed to your privacy and the protection of your personal health information. Health PEI will only collect, use and disclose your personal health information, as permitted by law, for the purposes of your care or to plan and manage health services.

The Prince Edward Island Health Information Act [PDF | 298 KB]:

• sets out rules for the collection, use, disclosure and protection of personal health information, and
• establishes your rights regarding your personal health information.

What is personal health information?

Personal health information is information about you and your health, including:

• your name, date of birth, address and health card number;
• your physical and mental health, and family medical history; and
• information about tests, diagnoses, procedures and care you have received.

What are my rights?

You have a right to:

• know what personal health information Health PEI collects about you;
• review or obtain a copy of your personal health information (with limited exceptions and subject to applicable copying fees) and/or request a correction;
• know who has accessed your personal health information in an electronic health information system;
• be informed about Health PEI privacy policy and information practices;
• ask that your personal health information not be shared with a specific health care provider or organization;
• be informed if your personal health information is lost, stolen or inappropriately accessed; and
• request a review by the PEI Information and Privacy Commissioner if you feel your privacy concern has not been resolved by Health PEI.

How is my personal health information collected?

Health PEI collects personal health information directly from you or a person acting on your behalf whenever possible. Health PEI may also collect personal health information about you from other sources, where permitted by law, including from other health care providers. Your personal health information may be collected in different formats, including paper charts and electronic health information systems.

How will my personal health information be used and disclosed?

Health PEI physicians, nurses and staff work together as a team to provide you with care and health services. Your personal health information is shared between individuals on your care team who need to know your information in order to provide care and assistance to you.

Health PEI uses and discloses (or shares with others) your personal health information for the purposes of:

• providing you with care, treatment and health services;
• billing the provincial health plan for services provided to you;
• helping health care providers outside of Health PEI who are involved in your care to provide services to you (for example, community pharmacists or private physiotherapists);
• planning, managing and improving health care services;
• health research projects approved by the PEI Research Ethics Board (with your consent if the research will use information that identifies you);
• letting your family and friends know that you are admitted to a health care facility, your general location in the facility and general health status (for example, critical, poor, stable, etc.);
• facilitating organ and tissue donation; and
• as required by law (for example, to report suspected abuse or a communicable disease).

How is my personal health information protected?

Health PEI is required by the Health Information Act and other laws to keep your personal health information secure and confidential. Health PEI protects your personal health information against loss, theft or unauthorized access through a variety of security measures, including secure locks on doors and filing cabinets and requiring passwords to access electronic charts. Health PEI keeps your personal health information for as long as required by law and will destroy it in a secure manner when it is no longer required.

How do I request access to my personal health information or medical record?

To request access to or a copy of your personal health information, contact the Records Department of the health facility where you received care (for example, at your primary care provider’s office or at the Health Records Department of the hospital where you were admitted). If you received your services at a hospital, you can make this request online.

How do I request a correction to my personal health information?

If you need to update your address or telephone number, you do not need to fill out a Request to Correct Personal Health Information Form - please notify PEI Medicare by calling 1-800-321-5492. It is recommended that you also confirm that your contact information has been updated with the Health PEI program(s) or service(s) where you receive care (for example:  Diabetes, Mental Health, Cardiac Rehab Program, etc.) at your next appointment.

Who do I contact if I have questions about my privacy or personal health information?

If you have questions about privacy or your personal health information, speak with your health care provider or contact the Health PEI Privacy Officer:

Access to Information and Privacy Team
PO Box 2000, 16 Garfield Street
Charlottetown, PE   C1A 7N8

Telephone:  902-569-7734
Fax: 902-368-6136

Email:  healthprivacy@ihis.org
Feedback:  Compliments and Complaints 

How can I contact the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner? 

If you would like to know more about your privacy rights, or if you feel a problem related to your personal health information has not been resolved by contacting Health PEI, you can contact the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner at 149 Kent Street, Suite 301, P.O. Box 2000, Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8, by phone at (902) 368-4099.