Your Health and Social Services Information
The Act respecting Health and Social Services Information (Section 14) requires us to inform users about how their personal information is used and protected. Personal information is also called “health and social services information”.
To make the text easier to read, we will use "you" to refer to the person concerned by the personal information and their representative (parent, guardian, etc.).
Why do we need your information?
Your information helps us provide you with quality services. It also helps us:
- Identify you and get in touch with you easily to follow-up. We may ask for your name, date of birth, home address, email address, phone number, health insurance card number, or other information.
- Offer you care and services that meet your needs. We will better understand your health condition, signs of illness, and your personal or family health history.
- Improve ourselves through surveys about the services provided, new programs, staff training, or research projects.
When you give us your information, you allow us to use it for these purposes.
How do we collect your information?
We collect your information in different ways, for example:
- From you directly when you speak to a staff member, fill out a form or communicate with us.
- During exams such as blood tests, X-rays, etc.
- Through medical devices such as thermometers, blood pressure monitors and other equipment.
- From other facilities where you received care or services such as hospitals, CLSCs (local community service centers), medical clinics, specialized clinics, your family doctor, or other professionals. These places or people may provide us with information when necessary.
Some professionals may use tools like artificial intelligence to help them spend less time on paperwork and spend more time with you. These tools are evaluated to be used safely. For example, your appointment might be recorded to help write medical notes. These recordings are deleted once the medical note is written.
How long do we keep your information?
We keep your information in accordance with the laws in effect. Generally, the information in your medical file is kept for at least 5 years, but some information may be kept longer.
For more information, you can contact us (links to archives page, document management team, QR code, or retention schedule) and phone number. For more information, you can contact our facilities or contact us by email.
What are your rights regarding your information?
Right to access: You have the right to request access to your health information in accordance with the laws in effect. For more information, contact the medical records department at the appropriate CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest facility.
Right to correction: You can request a correction if your information is unclear, incorrect, incomplete, or kept without your consent. For more information, contact the medical records department at the appropriate CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest facility.
Right to restrict access (limited access): You can ask to limit access to some of your information, under certain conditions. For more information, contact the medical records department at the appropriate CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest facility.
Right to refuse access after your death: After your death, you have the right to limit your family members’ access to your information. For more information, contact the medical records department at the appropriate CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest facility.
Right to refuse access for research purposes: You can refuse to be contacted by a health network researcher for a research project (solicitation). You can also refuse researchers outside the health network from using your information for their projects. For more information, contact the medical records department at the appropriate CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest facility.
To learn how to make a request or for any other questions, contact us.
We are committed to protecting your information. We are here to ensure your rights are respected.