Information and Policies
Information and Policies
At Bay Side Home, we want to make sure you are well guided by the terms of our service.
For your reference, please take the time to review our policies below.
What is “personal health information”?
Personal health information is identifying information about you, and includes demographic information (name, address, date of birth), your health card number, information related to your physical and mental health care, and financial information related to your application and eligibility for health care services. Personal health information can be recorded and unrecorded, and continues to be protected after you are deceased.
Why do you collect my personal health information?
We collect it for several purposes:
- To inform our decisions related to appropriate health care for you
- To disclose to other providers involved in your health care
- To ensure that all custodians receive appropriate payment for delivering care (e.g., services that are insured for you through the Department of Health and Wellness)
- To conduct research approved under PHIA
- To plan and manage health care services for you and others in Nova Scotia for other purposes required or permitted by law
When do you disclose my personal health information to others?
The personal health information we collect from you is used within our organization to provide appropriate care to you. Anyone in our organization who is required to review your personal health information would have access to it. We may disclose it to health professionals outside of our organization if they are in the “circle of care and treatment” for your illness or injury. This information would enable them to provide appropriate care to you.
Do I need to consent to this disclosure?
This disclosure is carried out under the principle of “knowledgeable implied consent”. This means that we have to provide you with sufficient information about the purposes for collecting, using, and disclosing your personal health information and about your right to give or withhold consent. You may ask for additional information about the management of your personal health information. If you continue to seek our services, we can assume your consent to our use and disclosure of your personal health information for your health care.
Can I decide who can and can’t have access to my personal health information?
You have the right to request that your personal health information not be used or disclosed by a specific health professional or organization. We are required to:
- Take reasonable steps to comply with your request
- Advise you of any consequences of your request (e.g. one of your health professionals may not be confident that they have sufficient information to provide care to you)
- Advise anyone to whom your personal health information is disclosed that the information is not complete
- Advise you we cannot comply with your request where the information is required by law to collect, use or disclose
How do I request that my personal health information not be used or disclosed?
A form is available from our PHIA/Privacy contact person
Can I request a copy of my personal health information?
Yes. You have the right to request a copy of your personal health information, or request an opportunity to view your personal health information. There are limited exceptions to what you cannot access, including information that was collected during an investigation, or information that includes the personal information of another person. We are permitted to charge you a prescribed fee for providing you with a copy of your record or an opportunity to view your record. We can provide you with the fee schedule.
Can I request that something in my personal health information be corrected?
Yes. You may make the request to our PHIA/privacy contact person. There are limited exceptions to your right to a correction of your record, including when the information you request to be corrected is part of a professional opinion of a health practitioner.
What happens if you lose my personal health information or someone who isn’t authorized to see it gains access to it?
If your personal health information is breached and we believe that this breach may cause you harm or embarrassment, we are required to notify you of the breach. If we don’t notify you, we are required to notify the Review Officer for PHIA.
Can I make a complaint if I think you have not followed the rules in PHIA?
Yes. Our organization has a PHIA complaints process. Our PHIA/privacy contact person can provide you with the necessary information and form.
What if I am not happy with the way your organization has handled my complaint?
You may request a review under PHIA. The Review Officer for PHIA can be reached at:
Review Officer
Personal Health Information Act
P.O. Box 181
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2M4
Canada
Phone: 902-424-4684
Toll-Free Number: 1-866-243-1564
Fax: 902-424-8303
Who do I contact for more information?
You can reach our PHIA/Privacy Contact person at Bobbi.Atkinson@nshealth.ca.
Management of External Questions or Complaints Policy
Management of External Questions or Complaints Policy
APPENDIX
Resident Records – Privacy, Access, and Confidentiality
APPENDIX
Resident Records – Privacy, Access, and Confidentiality
Privacy Statement - The Personal Health Information Act
This new provincial health information privacy and access legislation (PHIA), which came into force in June 2013, is intended to ensure that personal health information management rules in the health sector are clear, consistent, and relevant to all records of personal health information, including the electronic health information systems being implemented in Nova Scotia.
PHIA balances your right to have your privacy protected with the need of the health sector – including our organization – to collect, use, and disclose it to provide appropriate care and service to you. As a “custodian” of personal health information under PHIA, we have an obligation to protect the privacy of the information we collect, use,
and disclose about you.
Smoking
Smoking is permitted for residents only and only within the specially designated "Smoking Room" to the left of the main entrance/ lobby. Visitors are asked to smoke in their vehicles if possible. Please do not litter.
Fire Safety
Because we give utmost importance to the safety of all our residents and staff, we hold monthly fire drills, which are conducted by our maintenance department. If you are visiting during a drill, stay where you are and follow the direction of the staff member in charge. Our fire plan can be viewed at any time. The building is equipped with alarms and a sprinkler system in all resident rooms and throughout the building.
Scent
Less scent makes good sense. Some Bay Side Home staff and many residents have respiratory difficulties and sensitivities to scents so please be considerate and be 'scent-free' whenever possible.
Visiting
Families and friends are encouraged to visit as often as possible. We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, after 4:00 PM, our entrances are locked and admittance or exit is gained by way of a keypad/buzzer system.
Family gatherings with your loved one can be arranged with advance notice through our Recreation Department. For small gatherings, we can offer use of our family room, if available. For larger gatherings, the common room may be reserved.
If a resident requests assistance during your visit, please advise the nursing staff. They are trained to assist residents safely in all aspects of their care.
Click here for additional visiting tips.
Eating With a Resident
You are welcome to come and enjoy mealtime with your family. To order a meal prepared by our kitchen, please purchase your meal ticket at the Administration Office and place your order as soon as possible with either the admin staff or household staff. If you would like to take your loved one out for dinner, please check with the nurse in charge for the proper checkout procedures.
- Family and friends can bring in food items for their loved ones.
- We request that all food be prepared before being brought in for the resident.
- All such food is required to be labelled and stored safely.
- Food which has been brought in for a loved one cannot be shared with other residents.
- If in doubt, please check with the staff for any dietary restrictions/texture modifications that may prevent your loved from safely enjoying your treat.
Telephone and Cable TV
Resident's rooms are equipped for telephones and/or cable TV reception. Bay Side Home will provide telephone sets and service for a monthly fee. Cable TV is available for a monthly charge and TVs can either be purchased by the family or provided by the Home (subject to availability). TVs must be flat screen and wall-mounted and must meet certain size requirements. Before purchasing any TV for a resident room, please check with our Administration staff for size specifications.
Furniture
All furnishings within Bay Side Home are required to meet fire-rated regulations. This means that most home furnishings are unacceptable for resident use at our facility. While residents are encouraged to bring special mementos from home to decorate their rooms, all other room furnishings are provided with the room by the Home. These include beds, pillows, linens, night stands, lamps, chairs, and bureaus.
Animals/Pets
The residents of Bay Side Home have greatly enjoyed the company of the homes' cats, Ocean, Stitch, and Candy Cane. While the cats are friendly, they, too, enjoy their own space and quiet time, free to roam within the confines of the Home. You may meet one of our pets on your next visit.