Alberta Health and Wellness provides this web site as a resource for stakeholders and the public. We are committed to providing visitors with a web site that respects their privacy.
For details, please click on the following:
Collection, use and disclosure of personal information
Alberta Health and Wellness does not automatically gather any personal information from you, such as your name, phone number, e-mail or address. This information is only obtained if you supply it voluntarily, usually through contacting us via e-mail or by registering in a secure portion of the site. Any personal information that may be collected by the Government of Alberta through this web site is collected in compliance with section 33 of Alberta's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, which states:
"No personal information may be collected by or for a public body unless that information relates directly to and is necessary for an operating program or activity of the public body."
At the point of collection, you will be informed that your personal information is being collected, advised about the purpose for which it is being collected and notified that you have a right of access to the information. Personal information will be used only for the purpose for which it is collected. Personal information will not be released to a third party unless such a release is consistent with the provisions of the Act or provisions as outlined in other relevant Acts.
Health Information Act (HIA)
The Health Information Act (HIA) was passed by the Alberta Legislature in 1999 and came into effect on April 25, 2001.
The HIA provides individuals with the right to request access to health records in the custody or under the control of custodians, while providing custodians with a framework within which they must conduct the collection, use and disclosure of health information.
Health Information Act
Health Information Regulation
Designation Regulation
How the Health Information Act Will Work 
, 2001
Health Information Act Guidelines and Practices Manual
Section 34 Consent Form, July 2006
Health Information Act Amendments
The Health Information Amendment Act received Royal Assent on May 24, 2006 and was proclaimed on October 31, 2006.
The amendment to the Health Information Act will address technical enhancements to provincial electronic health records, clarify disclosure rules, improve the Department's capacity to monitor drug trends, and enhance the privacy of Albertans' health information.
Highlights from Alberta's Health Information Amendment Act - A summary of changes to enhance Health Information Privacy and Access , October 31, 2006.
Health Information Amendment Act protects patient confidentiality while providing needed access, February 25, 2003
Cookies
Cookies are small text files that Web pages place in your computer to assist you when you return to the page. This web site does not use cookies.
Security
For site security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, this government computer system employs software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage.
Except for authorized law enforcement investigations, no attempts are made to identify individual users or their usage habits.
Information collected via the Internet
When you visit the Alberta Health and Wellness web site, the web server automatically collects a limited amount of information essential for the operation and security of our Web site and the other sites that reside on the server. Some of this information – i.e., browser type – does not identify who you are; other information, such as your Internet domain name or IP address, may identify you. The extent of personal identification depends, in large part, on the naming standards followed by your Internet service provider. You may wish to check with them to inquire about their policies and practices in this regard.
If you choose to provide us with personal information – as in an e-mail – we use that information to respond to your message, and to help us get you the information that you requested.
We treat e-mails the same way as we treat letters sent to Alberta Health and Wellness: personal information is not collected for any purpose other than to respond to you, and the information you provide us is shared with another government department only if your inquiry relates to that department.
We do not create individual profiles with the information you provide, nor do we give it to any private organizations. Alberta Health and Wellness does not collect information for commercial marketing.
Messages sent via the Internet can be intercepted. We recommend you do not send us your personal information via the Internet; please use another method such as facsimile transmission, telephone or surface mail.
Links to other sites
This Web site contains links to other web sites. We are not responsible for the content or the privacy practices of other sites; we encourage you to examine each site's privacy policy and disclaimers and make your own decisions regarding the accuracy, reliability and correctness of material and information found.
Questions?
For more information about any of the policies described above or about our web site in general, please contact us:
By e-mail:
health.ahinform@gov.ab.ca
