Privacy Policy

1 Introduction

Erin Ridge Family Health Centre ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your personal and health information. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our clinic, use our services, or interact with our website at www.erinridgemedicalclinic.ca.

We comply with all applicable Canadian federal and provincial privacy legislation, including:

• Alberta's Health Information Act (HIA) — governing personal health information
• Alberta's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) — governing non-health personal information
• The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) — for commercial activities

By using our services or visiting our website, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. If you have questions, please contact us using the information in Section 8.

2 Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of information:

2.1 Personal Health Information

• Medical history, diagnoses, treatments, and prescriptions
• Lab results, diagnostic imaging, and referral records
• Mental health assessments and counselling notes
• Immunization records and preventive health screenings
• Insurance and billing information related to your care

2.2 Personal Identifying Information

• Full name, date of birth, gender, and contact details (phone, email, address)
• Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) number
• Emergency contact information
• Employment information (for careers applications only)

2.3 Website & Technical Information

• IP address, browser type, operating system, and device information
• Pages visited, time spent on pages, and referral sources
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see Section 7)

3 How We Use Your Information

We use your information for the following purposes:

4 Disclosure of Information

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may disclose your information only in the following limited circumstances:

• Continuity of Care: Sharing health information with other healthcare providers involved in your treatment (e.g., specialists, pharmacies, laboratories) with your consent or as permitted under the HIA.
• Legal Obligations: When required by law, court order, or regulatory authority (e.g., mandatory reporting of communicable diseases, child abuse, or harm to self/others).
• Alberta Health Services: Submission of billing claims and required reporting to Alberta Health and Wellness.
• Service Providers: Trusted third-party service providers who assist in clinic operations (e.g., electronic medical record systems, website hosting, IT support), bound by confidentiality agreements.
• With Your Consent: In any other case, we will obtain your explicit written consent before disclosing your personal health information.

5 Data Security

We take the protection of your personal information seriously. Our security measures include:

While we implement robust safeguards, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. We continuously review and update our security practices to minimize risk.

6 Your Rights & Access

Under Alberta's Health Information Act and privacy legislation, you have the right to:

• Access Your Records: Request a copy of your personal health information. We will respond within 30 days of receiving your written request. A reasonable fee may apply for copying and preparation.
• Request Corrections: If you believe your health information is inaccurate or incomplete, you may request a correction. We will process your request within 30 days.
• Withdraw Consent: You may withdraw your consent for certain uses or disclosures of your personal information at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions. Withdrawal may affect our ability to provide certain services.
• Restrict Disclosure: You may request that we limit how your information is shared, such as with specific healthcare providers. We will accommodate your request where possible.
• Be Informed of Breaches: In the event of a privacy breach that poses a real risk of significant harm, we will notify you and the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta (OIPC) as required by law.

To exercise any of these rights, please submit a written request to our clinic. You may need to provide identification for verification purposes.

7 Cookies & Website Analytics

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to improve your browsing experience and help us understand how visitors use our site.

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device by your web browser. They help websites remember your preferences and understand usage patterns.

How We Use Cookies

• Essential Cookies: Required for basic website functionality (e.g., navigation, form submissions).
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand traffic patterns and improve our website. We may use tools such as Google Analytics, which collects anonymous usage data.
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and choices for a better experience on return visits.

Managing Cookies

You can control or delete cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain website features. For more information, visit www.allaboutcookies.org.

Our website does not collect personal health information through cookies. Online form submissions (e.g., careers applications) are processed securely and are not stored in cookies.

8 Contact & Complaints

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your privacy rights, or would like to file a complaint regarding our privacy practices, please contact us:

If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to file a complaint with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta (OIPC):