Privacy Policy
Allies Integrated Health Privacy Policy
1. Introduction
At Allies Integrated Health, we are committed to protecting your privacy and personal information. We recognize the importance of confidentiality and adhere to the British Columbia Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and other relevant laws governing the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information. This policy outlines how we manage personal information, including that of clients, potential clients, staff, job candidates, consultants, and third-party service providers.
2. Definition of Personal Information
“Personal Information” refers to any information about an identifiable individual, excluding business contact details used for professional communication (e.g., name, title, business phone number). This may include, but is not limited to:
– Contact details (e.g., name, phone number, email address)
– Medical history and treatment records
– Payment and billing information
– Insurance details for direct billing purposes
3. Collection and Use of Personal Information
Allies collects and uses personal information for the following purposes:
– To provide safe and effective healthcare services
– To schedule and manage appointments
– To process billing and payments, including direct billing to insurance providers (with consent)
– To meet legal, professional, and regulatory requirements
– To communicate important information regarding services, policies, and appointment reminders
– To improve clinic operations and services based on patient feedback
4. Consent
We obtain your express or implied consent before collecting, using, or disclosing your personal information, except where permitted or required by law. Consent may be given verbally, in writing, electronically, or through an authorized representative (e.g., legal guardian, power of attorney).
You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time, subject to legal and contractual obligations. However, doing so may impact the services we can provide.
5. Disclosure and Sharing of Personal Information
Allies will not disclose your personal information without your explicit consent, except in specific circumstances outlined below. If you see multiple practitioners at Allies, your primary practitioner (the first practitioner you see) will be the main point of contact and responsible for maintaining your health records. If you wish for additional practitioners to access your records and collaborate on your care, you will need to complete a Patient Information Sharing Consent Form. Once signed, this allows your practitioners to communicate and share treatment plans respectfully and securely to provide coordinated care., except in circumstances where disclosure is:
– Required by law (e.g., court orders, subpoenas)
– Necessary to protect your health and safety or that of others
– Required for billing and insurance claims
– Permitted by law to prevent fraud, harm, or legal disputes
When required, Allies will disclose only the minimum necessary information to fulfill the stated purpose.
6. Retention of Personal Information
Allies retains personal information for a minimum of 10 years from the last patient interaction, as required by the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners & Acupuncturists of British Columbia (CTCMA-BC) and other relevant health regulatory bodies. After this period, records will be securely destroyed, deleted, or anonymized.
7. Security and Safeguards
Allies takes the security of personal information seriously and implements physical, administrative, and technical safeguards to prevent unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. Measures include:
– Secure electronic medical records (Jane App), a PIPA-compliant system recommended by regulatory bodies
– Restricted access to personal information, limited to authorized personnel
– Encrypted communication channels where applicable
– Regular audits and staff training on privacy protection
While we take all reasonable precautions, electronic communication methods (e.g., email, online forms) are not completely secure. We advise caution when transmitting personal details via email or online messaging.
8. Accessing and Correcting Personal Information
You have the right to access and request corrections to your personal information. Requests can be made in writing to our Privacy Officer at Allies. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe, unless prohibited by law.
9. Complaints and Contact Information
If you have concerns about how Allies handles your personal information, you may file a complaint with our Privacy Officer:
Privacy Officer – Allies Integrated Health
Janna Malo
(778) 445-3106
mailto:hello@alliesintegrated.health
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may escalate your complaint to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia (OIPC BC) at https://www.oipc.bc.ca.
10. Updates to This Policy
Allies may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in legislation or clinic practices. The most current version will always be available on our website.