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Recorded webinar

Health Privacy ask-me-anything webinar November 2019

Screenshot
  • 60 minutes
  • Includes video, pdf downloads

Watch and listen to the video and download the slides and a transcript of the entire broadcast.

Topics covered in this webinar:

  • IPC Decisions 99-101
  • Commissioner’s ROTO roadshow in Sudbury
  • Annual reporting requirements for Custodians
Thirty minutes of live questions from webinar participants, which Kate answers, including these:
  • Can mileage logs which include patient addresses be provided to the Canada Revenue Agency as part of an audit?
  • Missing Persons Act: who can present documentation of an urgent demands for records?
  • Disclosing information about a deceased patient to a telephone caller or to the police
  • How to respond to Physicians who claim exemption from privacy training
  • Can we use Google Hangouts and GMail for clients to communicate with staff?
  • How to tell if an organization is subject to FIPPA
  • Retired Physicians visiting a facility and looking at health records
  • … and others.

Please note that this webinar and its associated materials don’t constitute legal advice, and are provided on an as-is basis, and for information only.


Recorded webinar

Health Privacy ask-me-anything webinar September 2019

Screenshot
  • 60 minutes
  • Includes video, pdf downloads

Watch and listen to the video and download the slides and a transcript of the entire broadcast.

Topics covered in this webinar:

  • New guidance from the IPC
  • Legislation that was introduced over the summer
  • The latest IPC Decision
  • Getting beyond compliance: how to educate patients about their rights
Thirty minutes of live questions from webinar participants, which Kate answers, including these:
  • A family health team HIC would like to share information to another HIC organization to further develop a program within the hospital, what specific provision would allow this disclosure?
  • If a client is in a dire need for mental health support but is afraid to go for it because of child custody battle with her husband who wants to get custody, can the husband somehow get the records coming out of potential sessions with a mental health professional? Can the husband somehow get their lawyer to subpoena such records?
  • Under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, each home must have and support a Resident Council. Our Resident Council (made up of Residents) has asked to be notified of new admissions by name so that they can reach out to the resident, welcome them and invite their participation in the council. We currently share the opportunity to participate more “passively” via information sharing. I know that we can confirm that an individual is a resident, but sharing name and room is not the same – not sure if this is permitted? Or would we consider using name and room number “use” of personal health information since it would be used for an organization program or service?
  • … and others.

Please note that this webinar and its associated materials don’t constitute legal advice, and are provided on an as-is basis, and for information only.


Recorded webinar

Health Privacy ask-me-anything webinar August 2019

Screenshot
  • 60 minutes
  • Includes video, pdf downloads

Watch and listen to the video and download the slides and a transcript of the entire broadcast.

Topics covered in this webinar:

  • What is the Missing Persons Act 2018, and how does it impact privacy?
  • The new Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 Part X (privacy)
  • New IPC guidelines on Phishing
Thirty minutes of live questions from webinar participants, which Kate answers, including these:
  • Dealing with FOI requests for Ontario Health Team applications
  • What should you do when you file patient documents in the wrong record?
  • Why are some outside agency referral forms so onerous?
  • What are appropriate fees for PHIPA requests?
  • … and others.

Please note that this webinar and its associated materials don’t constitute legal advice, and are provided on an as-is basis, and for information only.


Recorded webinar

Health Privacy ask-me-anything webinar July 2019

Screenshot
  • 60 minutes
  • Includes video, pdf downloads

Watch and listen to the video and download the slides and a transcript of the entire broadcast.

Topics covered in this webinar:

  • What is Personal Health Information and why is it important?
  • New IPC decisions on access and correction
  • Can you consider an access request “incomplete” if a patient doesn’t tell you the purpose for the request?
Thirty minutes of live questions from webinar participants, which Kate answers, including these:
  • Should every independant contractor (agent) have a service agreement so that we can build in the requirements that we would have for our employees?
  • Can health care organizations share information with researchers? Can organizations send information about research opportunities to their clients?
  • We are looking at accepting online electronic payments for fees, and I was just wondering what are some privacy considerations you recommend we explore?
  • In the case of the new legislation change for Children’s Aid agencies, is the age of consent still 12 to release medical information or is it now at any age?
  • … and others.

Please note that this webinar and its associated materials don’t constitute legal advice, and are provided on an as-is basis, and for information only.


Recorded webinar

Health Privacy ask-me-anything webinar June 2019

Screenshot
  • 60 minutes
  • Includes video, pdf downloads

Watch and listen to the video and download the slides and a transcript of the entire broadcast.

Topics covered in this webinar:

  • Learn what the IPC discussed in his recent Reaching Out to Ontario roadshow
  • New IPC decisions on access and correction
  • Results of the Annual Statistical Report on privacy breaches in Ontario (guess which category of privacy breaches topped them all!)
  • Developments in freedom of information, voyeurism and secret recordings by healthcare providers
Thirty minutes of live questions from webinar participants, which Kate answers, including these:
  • Using text messages to communicate with patients
  • How to decide when to open a formal file when doing intake of new clients
  • Releasing information to deceased patients’ relatives
  • … and others.

Please note that this webinar and its associated materials don’t constitute legal advice, and are provided on an as-is basis, and for information only.


Recorded webinar

Health Privacy ask-me-anything webinar May 2019

Screenshot
  • 60 minutes
  • Includes video, pdf downloads

Watch and listen to the video and download the slides and a transcript of the entire broadcast.

Topics covered in this webinar:

Kate reviews Information and Privacy Commission of Ontario decisions 90 (an appeal against the decision of the Canadian Red Cross to withold the identities of caregivers) and 91 (a hospital refused an access request on the grounds that it was frivolous or vexatious).
A review of the rules about when a child can make their own information decisions.
Thirty minutes of live questions from webinar participants, which Kate answers, including these:
  • If a capable child objects to sharing of health information that is ordered to be shared under a divorce or custody agreement, do we accept the child’s consent directive?
  • In dental practices it’s common for 3rd party consultants to access patient records to help dentists increase business. How do you deal with this factor in patient consent for use of their data?
  • As primary care providers are we able to enforce a policy regarding not allowing clients to record appointments? Can we have a policy saying that you must notify staff if you choose to record an encounter?
  • There are organizations like long term care centres that have a standard that all staff nametages do not have last names on them. Does Decision 90 of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario suggest that this should not be done?
  • A client is seeing the counsellor at our organization. The client’s sister is demanding to be on the waitlist for the same counsellor. The counsellor feels it is a conflict between the two sisters and does not feel she can be impartial in counselling both sisters. How do we answer the sister as to why she is not on the waitlist without breaching privacy?
  • We would like to use an app to collect client demographic information online (ie. clients can register online instead of on paper in our clinic) however all the companies offering this service are based in the United States and their servers are in the United States. What is your thoughts on using a service like this?
  • … and twelve more.

Please note that this webinar and its associated materials don’t constitute legal advice, and are provided on an as-is basis, and for information only.

Some of Kate’s recent and upcoming events

Free healthcare privacy webinar - ask me anything!
the first Wednesday of every month

Free webinars - advance registration needed

Whether you're an experienced privacy officer or new in the field, pick Kate’s brain for free for an hour, in this live webinar. No charge, but you’ll need to register in advance.

Primary care webinars: Employment Law Update & Legal Issues for EDs and Board members

Part of Kate’s monthly webinar series.

Our 2025 program is now live.
Full details of the 2025 webinar series and registration here.

Mental Health webinars: Legal issues for mental health and addictions agencies and teams
Annual membership 2025

For managers and other leaders from mental health and addictions agencies, hospitals, CMHAs, CHCs, school boards, FHTs and Indigenous health services

This is an annual membership program with monthly webinars.
Full details and registration here.

Health Privacy Officer Foundations training
starts Spring 2025

For Privacy Officers within healthcare organizations.

This course focuses on how to become a more confident privacy officer and gives you the tools to document your privacy program. Full details and registration here...

Join the Shush: a collective of health privacy officers
Annual membership 2025

For Privacy Officers within healthcare organizations

This is an annual membership program that takes theory into practice and tackles real life scenarios to build Privacy Officer skills.
Full details and registration here.

Team Privacy Training Events

For Primary Care clinics, Hospitals, Community Agencies, Mental Health Teams, Public Health Units, School Boards, Police departments

Scheduled to your team's needs for comprehensive or refresher training More details...

Free summary of all PHIPA IPC decisions

Want to read privacy breach stories to learn how to improve your work? We have summarized all the Information and Privacy Commissioner's health privacy decisions for you Download here...

Kate Dewhirst Health Law

Kate says:

My mission is bringing the law to life. I make legal theory understandable, accessible and fun! I’m available and love to work for all organizations in the healthcare sector across Ontario and beyond.

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    P.O. Box 13024, RPO Bradford Centre
    Bradford, ON, L3Z 2Y5

    (416) 855 9557

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