Part I - RAT Application
V6. Updated October 1, 2020
19/21
Information for Client Support Network
D
ear Friends, Family, and Employers;
We appreciate that you are concerned about how your loved one is doing while with us at Thorpe Recovery
Centre (TRC). We know that you may be eager to speak with the counsellors, nurses, or support staff at the
Centre in regards to the wellbeing of your loved one. At TRC, we have our own code of ethical conduct and we
also abide by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act as well as the Health Information Act.
Among all of these regulations and guidelines are strict rules about who is and who is not entitled to a client’s
protected personal information. To ensure a safe and trusted environment, we ask for your cooperation and
understanding of our confidentiality policies. This letter will help you understand:
1. The types of information that are protecte
d
2. Com
munication and information you can expect from TRC
PROTECTED PERSONAL INFORMATION
Some examples of protected personal information of clients who seek professional healthcare include:
1. Physical and psychiatric diagnoses
2. Medications prescribed (if applicable)
3. Reports and clinical notes
4. Recommendations for further testing
5. Disclosures in assessments or therapy, and
6. Certain details in the therapeutic process.
According to the regulatory laws, codes of ethics, and policies, even the funder is not entitled to a client’s
protected personal information.
Of course, there may be times when it is important for families to have a better understanding of their loved one’s
condition. For example, perhaps the clinical team discovers a client has dementia and needs help making
decisions. In this case, we decide if it is in the client’s best interest to inform a family member of the new
diagnosis. Cases like this are exceptional.
CLIENT’S WRITTEN PERMISSION
When a client gives us written permission to speak with their family, this does not mean that we can reveal their
protected personal information. It does mean that we can discuss, for example, whether the client is still at TRC,
their general progress, and certain recommendations to support them in life after treatment. On rare occasions, a
client does not give us permission to talk to families. While we do work with the client to understand why they
refused consent, we are obligated to adhere to their wishes. Although it is difficult for families and TRC staff, we
are obligated to avoid contact. For example, if you were to call us, we would reply, “I’m sorry but I can neither
confirm nor deny that such person is here.” Other professionals who provide care to your loved one, such as a
psychiatrist in their hometown, may benefit from knowing the clinical details of the client’s experience at TRC. In
this case, we follow standard practice by obtaining a signed consent to provide information to the specific
professional.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
If you are on the Release of Information, within the first few days of the client’s stay at TRC, your loved one’s
Primary Counsellor will contact you to let you know how the client is settling in, with respect to the client’s wishes