Privacy Policy

Confidentiality

All user and patient health information entered into the RITTS website remains strictly confidential. Under no circumstances will any information entered into the RITTS website be generally distributed for use outside of the RITTS' mandate, nor will it be used for commercial or advertising purposes.

Users must be a registered health-care provider or a member of a registered health-care provider's support staff in order to register to use the RITTS . Only Registered Users have access to information regarding patients or other Registered RITTS Users.

Health care providers have implied consent, under the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) to search and use patient health information as it pertains to the circle of care. All patient searches in the RITTS are tracked in order to ensure that the search function is used appropriately. Inappropriate use of the RITTS website search function will result in suspension of access to the RITTS website.

The RITTS database of patient health information is assumed to elicit the same professional respect for privacy that is associated with any form of patient health information.

Security

The RITTS website adheres to the standards of international Internet communications security, including SSL encryption, username and password features and current anti-virus software. SSL encryption creates a secure and private connection between the sender and receiver. You can tell that SSL encryption is active when a symbol of a locked padlock appears in your browser window.

It is the responsibility of both the RITTS staff and the RITTS User to protect user and patient health information. Registered Users should never share username or password information with anyone; when creating a password, Registering Users should choose something that is difficult for others to guess; it is the Registered User's responsibility to maintain information security on their computer through the recommended use of current anti-virus software and password screen-locking features.

Corrections to patient health information

In order to ensure maximum security, Registered Users are asked to update their patient health information on the RITTS website themselves. The RITTS is a medical tool for health-care providers, and does not adopt administrative duties pertaining to the updating of patient health information. In the event that information requiring correction is in a locked field, Registered Users may request in writing that RITTS update a patient's information when required.

Patient Requests

Patients are entitled under the PHIPA to request that their personal health information be locked from specific viewers. It is assumed by the RITTS staff that patient requests to lock their information supersedes the degree of access allowed physicians under the PHIPA. If a registered RITTS User believes the locking of information to be detrimental to a patient's medical treatment, it is their responsibility to communicate this to the patient and other health-care providers involved in that patient's circle of care. In certain exceptional circumstances, information contained in the RITTS database and registry may be released to legal authorities or legal designates.

For any privacy questions or concerns pertaining to RITTS, please contact the Privacy Office at