Final Visit

Email Consent Policy

Electronic Messaging Consent Statement

Community Midwives of Halton offers electronic communication to support patient care and clinic operations. This includes the use of a secure patient portal and, in some circumstances, email communication via third-party email providers.

This consent explains how electronic communication may be used, the associated risks, and your rights under Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA).

Electronic Communication: Secure portal and email may be used for non-urgent matters only, and may include personal health information if you consent. You understand and acknowledge that email communication is not fully secure. Messages may be intercepted, accessed by unauthorized individuals, or stored on third-party servers. Electronic communication is used to share test results, send clinical messages, provide appointment information and to share care instructions, forms, or documents.
NEVER Used for Emergencies or Urgent Concerns: Electronic communication must not be used for emergencies or urgent medical concerns. If you are experiencing an emergency or urgent symptoms, you must: Call 911, or contact the clinic by pager or phone directly.
Privacy, Confidentiality & Safeguards (PHIPA): Community Midwives of Halton complies with the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) and takes reasonable administrative, technical, and physical steps to protect personal health information. You understand that no electronic system can guarantee absolute confidentiality. Some privacy risks are inherent in electronic communication, reasonable safeguards reduce, but do not eliminate, these risks.
Medical Record Documentation: You understand that electronic communications, including secure portal messages and relevant emails, may be documented and retained as part of your medical record.
Limitation of Responsibility: To the extent permitted by Ontario law, you acknowledge that Community Midwives of Halton, its healthcare providers, and staff are not responsible for unauthorized access, disclosure, or privacy breaches that occur despite reasonable safeguards or that are beyond the clinic’s control, including risks inherent in electronic communication.
Patient Responsibilities: You are responsible for the following; Providing and maintaining an accurate email address; Protecting access to your email account and portal login credentials; Not sharing electronic communications unintentionally; Informing the clinic if your email or portal account is compromised or changed, and if the email address provided is a shared email address.
Consent and Right to Withdraw: Your consent to electronic communication is voluntary. You may withdraw your consent at any time by providing written notice to the clinic info@haltonmidwives.com and any withdrawal will apply going forward and will not affect prior communications.