Last updated: [Month Day, Year]
[Clinic legal name] (“Forest Gate Dental”, “we”, “us”) is committed to protecting the privacy of our patients and website visitors. This policy explains how we collect, use, share and protect personal information, including personal health information, in line with Ontario's Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA) and other applicable privacy laws.
Information we collect
We collect the information we need to provide safe, high-quality dental care. This includes your contact details and date of birth; your medical and dental history, treatment records, x-rays and other images; insurance and billing information; and anything you share with us by phone, email or through our website.
How we use your information
We use your information to assess, plan and provide your care; to contact you about appointments, including reminders by phone, email or text; to process insurance claims and payments; to meet our legal and professional obligations, including those set by the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO); and to improve our services.
Consent
We collect, use and share personal health information with your consent. Consent may be implied when the information is used to provide your care, or express where the law requires it. You may withdraw your consent at any time, subject to legal limits, and we will explain how this may affect your care.
When we share information
We do not sell your personal information. We share it only when needed: with other health care providers involved in your care; with your insurer or benefits provider to process claims, with your consent; with service providers who help us run the clinic, such as IT, scheduling and communication tools, who must keep it confidential; or when required or permitted by law.
Our website
When you visit our website, we may collect basic technical information, such as your browser type and the pages you view, using cookies and analytics tools to understand how the site is used. Information you submit through our website is used only to respond to your request, and some forms may be provided by third-party services that store data on our behalf. Please do not send detailed health information through website forms or email.
How we protect and keep your information
We protect personal information with physical, administrative and technical safeguards suited to its sensitivity. We keep patient records for as long as required by the RCDSO and applicable law, and then dispose of them securely.
Accessing and correcting your records
You may ask to see or receive a copy of your records, and ask us to correct information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete. We may charge a reasonable fee for copies, as permitted by law.
Questions and concerns
For questions or requests about your privacy, please contact our privacy contact, [Name], at reception@forestgatedental.ca or [phone number]. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario at www.ipc.on.ca.