The Act respecting health and social services information requires that users be informed of how their personal data is used and protected. This data is also called your health and social services information.
To make this text easier to read, “you” refers both to the person concerned by the information and to their representative (parent, tutor, etc.).
Why do we need your information?
Your information helps us provide you with quality services. It also helps us:
To identify you and communicate with you easily for follow-up purposes
To this end, we may ask for your name, date of birth, home address, email address, phone number, health insurance number, or other information.
To provide you with care and services that meet your needs.
With the information you provide, we will better understand your health condition, signs of illness, past health issues or those that may exist in your family.
To improve ourselves, measure our effectiveness and expand our knowledge through surveys about the services provided, performance evaluation programs and research projects.
The information you give us can be used for these purposes.
Wherever you receive care in Quebec, your information follows you from one professional to another, and from one facility to another.
How is your information collected?
We collect your information in different ways, for example:
- 01
Directly from you, during conversations with a staff member, when completing a form or when communicating with us.
- 02
During examinations, such as a blood test, an X-ray or another test.
- 03
Through medical devices, such as a thermometer, a blood pressure monitor or other equipment.
Some professionals may use tools that collect personal information, such as artificial intelligence, to reduce the time spent on administrative work and allow more time for patient care. For example, an appointment may be recorded to prepare a medical note.These recordings are deleted once the medical note has been written. Professionals are required to use secure tools approved by Santé Québec.
How long do we keep your information?
We keep your information in accordance with the laws in force. In general, the information in your record is kept for at least five years, while some information must be kept longer.
For more information, you may contact the Santé Québec facility where you receive services using the list below.
What are your rights regarding your information?
Protecting your information matters to us.
We are here to ensure that your rights are respected.
Right of access
You have the right to request access to your information, as provided by law.
Right to rectification
A request may be made to correct information that is unclear, inaccurate, incomplete or should not have been kept.
Restriction of access (limited access)
Under certain conditions, you may request that access to some of your information be restricted.
Refusal of access after your death
You have the right to limit your family members’ access to your information after your death.
Refusal of access for research purposes
You may refuse to be asked to participate in a research project within the health and social services network. You may also refuse to have your information used for a research project outside the public health and social services system.
Refusal of access for donation solicitation purposes
You may refuse to have your information used to solicit a donation for the benefit of a Santé Québec facility or a foundation related to it.
For more information
To find out how to exercise a right or for any other questions, please contact the Santé Québec facility where you receive services. Contact information is available on the website of each facility:
Santé Québec Abitibi Témiscamingue
Santé Québec Bas-Saint-Laurent
Santé Québec Capitale-Nationale
Santé Québec CHU de Québec – Université Laval
Santé Québec Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec – Université Laval
Santé Québec Chaudière-Appalaches
Santé Québec Côte-Nord
Santé Québec Estrie – Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke
Santé Québec Gaspésie
Santé Québec Lanaudière
Santé Québec Laurentides
Santé Québec Laval
Santé Québec Mauricie-et-Centre-du-Québec
Santé Québec Montérégie-Centre
Santé Québec Montérégie-Est
Santé Québec Montérégie-Ouest
Santé Québec Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal – Universitaire
Santé Québec Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal
Santé Québec Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine
Santé Québec Centre universitaire de santé McGill
Santé Québec Centre-Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal – Universitaire
Santé Québec Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal – Universitaire
Santé Québec Institut de cardiologie de Montréal
Santé Québec Nord-de-l’Île-de-Montréal
Santé Québec Institut national de psychiatrie légale Philippe-Pinel
Santé Québec Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal
Santé Québec Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean– Universitaire
Santé Québec Baie-James