Privacy and access to information

NL Health Services is committed to protecting your privacy and the confidentiality of information within our custody or control while respecting your right to access your own personal and personal health information and other general information as per applicable privacy legislation, policies, and practices.

Privacy and Access to Information is responsible for ensuring that NL Health Services complies with privacy and access legislation, policies and practices, providing advice and guidance on privacy and access issues, investigating privacy incidents, conducting privacy assessments, and processing requests for personal health information under the Personal Health Information Act and access requests under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015.

A record of visits history provides information for income tax and other purposes. It includes all visits to NL Health Services facilities that were registered via electronic registration in the previous calendar year.

If you need a record of visits for a clinic or facility not operated by NL Health Services, please contact the specific clinic or facility directly.

To request a record of visits, complete the Release of Personal Health Information form, and select the “Record of Visits” section.

There are two ways to access your health records:

• Option 1: MyHealthNL – NL Health Services offers secure online access to certain health records, such as lab test results, medical imaging reports, dispensed medications and allergy information, with more to be added. Sign in or create an account.

 

• Option 2: Request copies of your health records through the Release of Information (ROI) program. Fees apply. Learn more about Release of Information requests.

Who can make a request?

Individuals can make a request for health records, as follows:

• If you are 16 years of age or older, you can request or authorize access to your health record. We will need your signature to proceed.

 

• If you are between 12 and 15 years old, you can request or authorize access with the consent of a parent or guardian. Both you and your parent or guardian will need to sign.

 

• If you are under 12 years of age, you cannot request or authorize access to your records, but your parent or guardian can do this for you.

 

• Authorized representatives can also request or authorize access on your behalf.

 

How long will it take to process my application?

Processing times vary. We recommend submitting your request as early as possible, particularly if the information is needed for things like income tax, estate planning, or urgent decision-making.

 

How do I make a ROI request?

Complete the Authorization for the Release of Personal Health Information form and submit your request to the appropriate contact where your records are held. You can find the list of contact details in the contact section.

If you need a copy of your immunization records, contact your local Community Health office:

Central
Email: immunizations@centralhealth.nl.ca

 

Eastern urban and rural

 

Labrador-Grenfell
Contact your local Community Health Office.

 

Western
Contact your local Community Health Office.

You have a right to request an audit of your electronic health records to see who has accessed them. Please note:

• There is no cost for an audit request.
• We can audit accesses to your health records over the previous two years only.
• You will need to fill out a consent form and provide a valid government-issued photo ID.

 

To request an audit, please email: privacy@nlhealthservices.ca or

mail your request to:
Privacy and Access to Information Program
NL Health Services
760 Topsail Road
Mount Pearl Square
Mount Pearl, NL A1N 3J5

If you find an error in the information you have received from a release of information request, you can ask for a correction.

Please send the details of the error in writing via email to privacy@nlhealthservices.ca or

mail your request to:
Privacy and Access to Information Program
NL Health Services
760 Topsail Road
Mount Pearl Square
Mount Pearl, NL A1N 3J5

Our Privacy and Confidentiality policy requires that NL Health Services’ employees limit the collection, use and disclosure of personal health information to what is necessary to provide you with health-care services, and to what is permitted or required by legislation, policy and practice.

In certain circumstances and where technically feasible, we can limit access to some of your health information.

Please note:

• Limiting access to your personal health information may pose potential risks.
• We will discuss the risks with you before proceeding.
• We may not be able to fully implement your request due to technological or legal limitations.
• Restricting the use and disclosure of your health record does not include the collection of personal health information when it’s required by law or by established standards of professional practice.

 

To submit a request for limited access to your health records, please send details to: privacy@nlhealthservices.ca or mail your request to:

Privacy and Access to Information Program
NL Health Services
760 Topsail Road
Mount Pearl Square
Mount Pearl, NL A1N 3J5

The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (2015) allows you to request non-medical information from NL Health Services. You can make a request for general or personal non-medical information under this Act.

The Act applies to all public bodies (defined in the ATIPP Act), including government departments, agencies, health boards, school boards and municipalities. It does not apply to the private sector.

To make a request, please fill out Form 1 – Access to Information Request Form and send it to atipp@nlhealthservices.ca or mail your request to:

Provincial Access to Information Officer
ATIPP Coordinator
Privacy and Access to Information Program
760 Topsail Road
Mount Pearl, NL A1N 3J5

We take your right to privacy seriously and we are committed to keeping your information secure and confidential. We adhere to the principles of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Model Code for the Protection of Personal Information.

If you have a concerns or questions about privacy or would like to report an incident, please email us at privacy@nlhealthservices.ca.

We work together as a team to provide you with the best care possible. This means your health information will be shared among team members for this purpose. However, we will not disclose or share your personal health information without your consent unless it is necessary for a lawful purpose and permitted or required by law

Some situations where your information might be shared without your consent include:

• Planning, evaluation, statistical purposes or research.
• Mandatory reporting obligations, as required by law or professional practice standards.
• Billing for services.
• Public health and safety.
• Legal proceedings.

We are deeply committed to safeguarding your privacy and ensuring the confidentiality of your information. Your information will only be disclosed as permitted by legislation. NL Health Services employees are guided by professional codes of ethics and are required to sign an oath of confidentiality.

Other security measures we use to protect your data include:

• Using secure locks on cabinets and doors;
• Limiting access by authorized staff;
• Using passwords, encryption, multi-factor authentication, and other security measures for electronic devices; and
• Conducting regular audits to monitor access to records.

You have rights regarding your personal health information:

• The right to review and obtain a copy of your medical records (with some exceptions).
• The right to know who has accessed your medical records.
• The right to correct or add information to your medical records (with some exceptions).
• The right to ask about our privacy policies and how your information is handled.
• The right to share your concerns if you think we are not following our privacy policies or complying with privacy and access legislation.

NL Health Services Privacy and Confidentiality policy can be found here.

Central:

Mailing address:
Disclosure- Personal Health Information
Information, Privacy and Regulatory Oversight
James Paton Memorial Regional Health Centre
125 TransCanada Highway
Gander, NL A1V 1P7

Email: disclosure@centralhealth.nl.ca
Phone: 709-256 5520
Fax: 709-256 2715

 

Eastern urban and rural:

Mailing address:
Request for Information
Privacy and Access to Information
NL Health Services
760 Topsail Road
Mount Pearl, NL A1N 3J5

Email: roi.mps@nlhealthservices.cs

 

Labrador-Grenfell:

Charles Curtis Memorial Hospital /St. Anthony (south clinics as well)

Mailing Address:
Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital
Labrador-Grenfell Health
Health Records Department
178-200 West Street
St. Anthony, NL A0K 4S0

Phone: 709-454-0121
Fax: 709-454-3209
Fax: 709-454-3209

Labrador Health Centre/Goose Bay (north clinics as well)

Mailing Address:
Labrador-Grenfell Health
Labrador Health Centre
Health Records Department
P.O. Box 7000, Station “C”
Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL
A0P 1C0

Fax: 709-896-5966

Labrador West Health Centre/ Labrador City

Mailing Address:
Health Records Department
Labrador-West Health Centre
1700 Nichols-Adam Highway
Labrador City, NL

Fax: (709) 944-7439

 

Western:

Western Memorial Regional Hospital – Corner Brook

Mailing address:
Corner Brook Community Health Centre
Health Records Release of Information
1 Brookfield Avenue, P.O. Box 2006
Corner Brook, NL A2H 6J7

Phone: 709-784-5474
Fax: 709-637-5591

Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital – Stephenville

Mailing Address:
Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital
Health Records Release of Information
142 Minnesota Drive
Stephenville, NL A2N 2V6

Phone: 709-643-7479
Fax: 709-643-7466

Legislation

• Personal Health Information Act (PHIA)
• Personal Health Information Act Regulations
• Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 (ATIPPA, 2015)
• Privacy Act

 

Statutory Offices

• Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC)
• Office of Citizen’s Representative
• Child and Youth Advocate