top of page
Therapy Session

CLINIC POLICIES

Image by Matt Walsh

PRIVACY POLICY

Privacy of your personal health information is an essential part of providing you with quality care. In compliance with legislation (The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Document Act (PIPEDA) and Health Information Act (HIA), the DECODE Insomnia Clinic is committed to collecting, using and disclosing your personal health information responsibly. The personal health information we collect from you is necessary to provide you with the appropriate care. This includes contact information, medical information, and health insurance information. Once information is collected we make all reasonable efforts to maintain information security using commonly accepted security protocols. We do not share your personal information outside our designated offices for any marketing, promotional, publicity, educational or research purposes without your consent. The DECODE Insomnia Clinic will collect and may disseminate your personal health information, including contact information, health insurance information, and relevant medical information required for the following purposes: To provide other health care professionals involved in my 'circle of care' relevant information necessary for my treatment. To provide me with copies of medical records upon request using secure communication methods (mail/fax) To provide information to me by email to an email account that I designate. To communicate with me via text or telephone to confirm appointments. To invoice for services, to process payments, or to collect unpaid accounts. To process claims for reimbursement from third party health benefit providers, insurance companies and my Provincial Health Care. To contact me regarding the need for further examination, or information. To provide other physicians relevant information needed for a second opinion or referral. To obtain relevant information for my diagnosis and treatment from other physicians involved in my care.

CANCELLATION/
NO SHOW POLICY

This policy is in place to reduce wait times and encourage progress with treatment. A $50 fee will apply in the following situations: *Missed consultation or follow-up appointment *Cancellation/rescheduling request within 2 business days of the visit *More than 10 minutes late for an appointment (Please ensure you have a good internet connection and check your connection ahead of time.) *Intake questionnaire has not been submitted prior to the consultation *An invalid OHIP card number *The patient is not present for the appointment (appointments cannot be held with a family member without the presence of the patient) In extenuating, unforeseen circumstances (serious illness, emergencies), the fee may be waived on one occasion only. After one waived fee, no exceptions can be made to this policy. Please resolve invoices within 1 month to avoid additional fees. If an appointment needs to be cancelled or rescheduled, please request this change by emailing decodeinsomnia@protonmail.com or calling the clinic at 289-401-8883 as soon as possible.

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS POLICY

The clinic uses secure email (decodeinsomnia@protonmail.com) for administrative purposes only (booking, rescheduling, cancelling appointments) and, on occasion, for the sharing of educational resources. Email will not be used to communicate clinical information. The clinic uses an electronic portal and medical record (hosted by Telus Health). Appointment confirmations, appointment reminders, and electronic questionnaires will be sent out by this system and will be delivered by email and/or SMS. PARENTS OF YOUTH PATIENTS: If a parent is involved in care (for patients ages 13-16), the clinic will use the parent's email and the patient's cell phone number for these communications. Information collected from electronic questionnaires is confidential and is integrated into the patient's medical record.

VIRTUAL CARE POLICY

All appointments and educational sessions are currently held by Zoom. While precautions are taken to make virtual care visits private and secure, no video or audio tool is ever completely secure. There is an increased risk that the patient's health information may be intercepted or disclosed to third parties when using video or audio communications tools. To help us keep your information safe and secure, please use a private computer/device (i.e., not an employer's or third party's computer/device), a secure account, and a secure internet connection (i.e. not an open guest wifi connection).

bottom of page