Collecting and maintaining high quality health records is vital to providing our patients the best possible health care, as is protecting the privacy of the information.
If you've ever received care or treatment from any of the programs or services at Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), then you have a health record. These records contain reports from care providers, test results and pharmacy information. All of your records are kept strictly confidential. We collect, use and disclose your information only where permitted or authorized under the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
If you have any questions or concerns about the privacy of your personal health information, please contact the Information Privacy Office.
You or your authorized representative can request access to or copies of your health record by completing the Authorization for the Release of Health Records form and submitting it in person, by fax, or by mail to the Health Record Department at the location you received care. They will assist you in accessing the records you wish to see and are entitled to receive.
Your personal information may also be disclosed to other authorized individuals as required by law (e.g. to respond to a court order) or under a specific statute (e.g. the Coroner’s Act or Adult Guardianship Act).
We use electronic records to share information efficiently and improve the quality of care we deliver. We record your information in our electronic clinical systems and use a shared electronic health record, CareConnect, to provide a single point of access for patient medical information. We also have access to patient identifiers in the Ministry of Health’s Electronic Master Patient Index, which we use to confirm your identity and for audit purposes.
We use a variety of safeguards to protect your electronic information including encryption, passwords and access audits. The more sensitive the information, the more protected it is. The E-Health (Personal Health Information Access and Protection of Privacy) Act is legislation that covers designated Health Information Banks. Under this legislation, we may only collect, use, or disclose your personal information for specific purposes as designated. If you have further questions about your personal information at Vancouver Coastal Health, contact the Information Privacy Office; or to request access to your health records, contact the Health Records department at the location where you were treated.
It is standard practice to tell people who phone to ask about you for us to confirm you have been admitted to one of our facilities. If you don’t want this information to be released, let a staff member know, and they will make a note on your file saying not to release any information about you.
When planning for an overnight visit to the hospital it's important to be prepared. Find out more on how to make your stay as comfortable as possible.
Read about your payment options if you received an invoice for uninsured health care costs.
Vancouver Coastal Health is committed to delivering exceptional care to 1.25 million people, including the First Nations, Métis and Inuit, within the traditional territories of the Heiltsuk, Kitasoo-Xai’xais, Lil’wat, Musqueam, N’Quatqua, Nuxalk, Samahquam, shíshálh, Skatin, Squamish, Tla’amin, Tsleil-Waututh, Wuikinuxv, and Xa’xtsa.
