Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Personal Health Information Act, 2004 (PHIPA) impact a health care professional's ability to provide the Ontario Poison Centre with a patient's personal health information for the purpose of receiving treatment management? 

• The Ontario Poison Centre's physicians, pharmacists and nurses are considered within the "circle of care" and PHIPA should not interfere with the exchange of information between health care professionals and the Poison Centre.

• In the event of a call from a hospital, the poison center needs personal health information to be able to provide accurate consultation, specific to that patient including name, age, history, vitals, physical condition, laboratory results that have been done and laboratory results that we may have requested in offering advice for care.

Who can health care professionals contact for more information about PHIPA?

• Health care professionals can contact the Privacy Officer in their organization.

• Access the Web site for the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario at:
www.ipc.on.ca
Fact Sheet: Ontario Regional Poison Information Centres

• Nurses can access the College of Nurses of Ontario's Web site at:
www.cno.org