Requests Procedures
Informal Request
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) is committed to protecting the privacy of personal information and places the highest value on openness, transparency and accountability.
In many cases the information you seek may already be available, for example, on the Hospital’s website. Before making a formal request for access to information under the Act, please check our website for more information regarding SJHH Accountability, Quality & Performance.
Formal Request
When an informal request for access to information or to correct your personal information is not possible, you can make a formal request to St Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, FOI Office. You can download the request form by clicking on the link, Request Form. Although you are not required to use the form provided, we recommend that you do so to help ensure that your request is processed as quickly as possible.
The 3 requirements for a formal request for access to information
The Hospital will only process your request if all of the following conditions are met:
- The request is in writing or you may complete and mail in the Request Form. If you do not use the Request Form, make sure your written request states that the request is being made under FIPPA.
- The $5 application fee for your written request (cheque or cash) has been received by the FOI Office (make cheques payable to: "St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton"; cash payments should be delivered to the FOI office). Do not send cash payment by mail.
- You have provided sufficient detail to enable an experienced employee of the Hospital, with a reasonable amount of effort, to identify the information/record you are requesting.
Normally, the Hospital must make every reasonable effort to respond to your request within 30 calendar days from the date the Hospital receives your request. However, there are circumstances under the Act where the Hospital is permitted to extend the time limit beyond the 30 days.
The Hospital will, within the applicable time limit, issue you a decision letter regarding whether or not your request will be granted. If you disagree with the decision, you may appeal the decision to the Information and Privacy Commissioner.
The Hospital will only make corrections to factual information about you, for example: an incorrectly spelled name, an incorrect address, an incorrect birth date, a change of marital status, etc… If you are aware of incorrect personal information about you in a Hospital record, you may wish to request that the information be corrected. It is recommended that you begin by making an informal request by contacting the FOI Coordinator.
