Statement of Information Practices

The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) is a prescribed person in respect of BORN Ontario (Better Outcomes Registry and Network) as per section 13(1) of Ontario Regulation 329/04 - General (Regulation) under the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA)

BORN Ontario has implemented a rigorous program to protect personal health information from theft, loss, unauthorized access, copying, modification, use, disclosure and disposal. BORN conducts audits and investigations to monitor and manage our privacy compliance.  The Registry’s information practices and procedures are approved by the Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner every three years.

Collection of Personal Health Information

BORN collects personal health information from health care providers such as hospitals midwives and laboratories.  The personal health information collected may include, for example:

• Information about hospital and home births in the province, including interventions and outcomes in labour and birth

• Results and follow-up from prenatal screening provided to pregnant women for Down Syndrome, Trisomy 18 and Neural Tube Defects

• Information about services provided to women whose babies have suspected or confirmed birth defects

• Newborn screening test results indicating whether a baby might be at risk for a rare but treatable disease

Note that not all of this information is currently included in the BORN registry, but is proposed for inclusion in the system being built.  Click here to view the data elements proposed for collection.

Purpose for the use of Personal Health Information

BORN uses personal health information to ensure health care providers and organizations have the necessary knowledge to assess and improve the quality of services available to mothers, infants and children in Ontario.

The information is also summarized to produce reports and analyses for planning and management of the health care delivery system at the organization, provincial, LHIN or other regional levels. Public reports do not contain personal health information or identify individuals; these analyses provide aggregated data only. The reports are made available through the BORN Ontario website: www.BORNOntario.ca

Limiting disclosure

BORN provides data to other organizations who use it for purposes in accordance with BORN’s mandate, such as Boards of Health,  while conforming to the limiting principle that only the minimum personal health information necessary for the purpose will be provided. BORN also facilitates research on maternal and child health issues as authorized by law. BORN works with researchers who request information from BORN to ensure the minimum possible amount of identifiable information is included when necessary for important research. Researchers are also required to sign agreements with BORN regarding confidentiality and security of the information, and are subject to the requirements of PHIPA including review by research ethics boards.

Security Safeguards

Personal health information within BORN is protected by administrative, physical and technological controls that adhere to industry best practices for security and safeguards against unauthorized accidental or intentional release of information.

Examples of these protections include: state-of the-art electronic security, requirements to educate all users in their responsibilities to protect the data and report any problems; places of business with appropriate locks and other physical controls.

Access and Correction

As a privacy best practice, if you make a request for access to personal health information about you, BORN will inform you of whether it exists in the registry, and the original source of the information. BORN will encourage you to contact the original health care provider for access to the information so you have the best information and the best opportunity to have it explained if necessary.

Any requests for correction to your personal health information should be directed to your health care provider.

More Information

Details of the BORN Ontario privacy policy, frequently asked questions, and other information can be found at www.BORNOntario.ca

For further information or if you wish to raise a concern about BORN practices please use this form, or contact: 
BORN Privacy Officer
BORN Ontario
CHEO Research Institute | Centre for Practice-Changing Research Building
401 Smyth Road |Ottawa, ON | K1H 8L1
privacy@BORNOntario.ca

You also have the right to complain to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario if you believe BORN Ontario has violated your rights.

The Commissioner can be reached at:

Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario
2 Bloor Street East, Suite 1400
Toronto, ON  M4W 1A8
Phone: 416-326-3333 or 1-800-387-0073
E-mail: info@ipc.on.ca
Website: www.ipc.on.ca