Constant Health and the registered Dietitians (the “Dietitians”) and coaches (the “Coaches”) who provide Services, as defined in our Terms of Use www.constanthealth.ca/terms-of-use are committed to user (the “User”) privacy and to protecting the confidentiality of the personal information of Users that Constant Health collects and handles through Users’ use of the Constant Health App, Website, User Account and Content (as defined in the Terms of Use).

The App is hosted on Amazon Web Services, which has its own privacy policy that can be accessed here: https://aws.amazon.com/privacy. In the case of a conflict between the Amazon Web Services privacy policy and this Privacy Policy, this Privacy Policy prevails.

Constant Health is considered an organization (“Organization”) under Canada’s federal privacy legislation, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (“PIPEDA”) in respect of the User personal information collected and handled by Constant Health.

Constant Health is considered an enterprise under Quebec privacy legislation, “An act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector” (“Quebec Privacy Law”).

Each Dietitian registered in Ontario who provides health care to Users registered through CH with an Ontario address, is a health information custodian (“Health Information Custodians”) under Ontario’s health privacy legislation, the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (“PHIPA”). Dietitians registered to practice dietetics in a Canadian province or territory other than Ontario may be governed by that province or territory’s health privacy legislation, or if none, by the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (“PIPEDA”) or by the Quebec Privacy Law if they exercise in Quebec.

In this Policy, “we” and “our” refers to CH and to the Dietitians and Coaches employed or engaged by CH, in respect of privacy-related matters. CH has a variety of roles, including acting as privacy officer for each of the Dietitians and Coaches, and for running the overall privacy program on their behalf. CH is responsible for privacy training for its employees and agents, including its Dietitians and Coaches in relation to their work through CH.

Accountability for Personal Information and Personal Health Information

Constant Health, as an organization under PIPEDA  and an enterprise under Quebec Privacy Law, when applicable, is responsible for the personal information it collects, uses and discloses as a result of your use of one or more of the Website, App, Content and User Account. CH only collects Your personal information, either directly from You or through the Coach or Dietitian, with Your consent, or as may be permitted or required by law. Dietitians, as health information custodians under Ontario’s health privacy legislation (PHIPA) collect, use and disclose Your personal health information only with your consent or if otherwise permitted or required by law. If you do not consent to Dietitians, Coaches or CH collecting, using and disclosing your personal information or personal health information, please discontinue your use of the Constant Health App, User Account, Content and Website. By using the CH App, User Account, Content and Website, You consent to Constant Health collecting, using and disclosing Your personal information in accordance with this policy and the Terms of Use.  By choosing a Dietitian as part of your use of the CH App and Website, You also consent to the Dietitian collecting and using your personal health information and to the Dietitian disclosing to Constant Health Your personal health information, all in accordance with this policy and the Terms of Use. The purposes for collection, use and disclosure of Your personal information and personal health information are described below.

If you have questions about this policy, please contact the Constant Health privacy officer:

Constant Health Inc.
575 West Hunt Club, Unit 100
Ottawa, ON Canada
K2G 5W5

Privacy Officer contact email:
‍drfreedhoff@constanthelath.ca or 1-833-596-1460 

Personal Information collected

CH and the Dietitians or Coaches collect PI and PHI necessary to provide the Services to the Users, including information on your identity, such as your name, address, demographic information, sex, age, in addition to collecting dieting history information and contextual information associated with dieting patterns, medication and medical conditions underlying such medication and other personal information necessary to render the Services.

Purposes for Collecting Personal Information and Personal Health Information

CH and its Dietitians and Coaches collect personal information and personal health information for purposes related to the provision of Services including the provision to You of dietetic care, weight management and related issues which may include but are not necessarily limited to one or more of comorbid disease management, diabetes and pre-diabetes targeted behavioural therapy disease monitoring, messaging, and related administrative and quality purposes.

In particular, personal information and personal health information may be collected for the purposes of rendering the Services, or in the context of the program, for following purposes and using the following services:

1. Providing you with the Services, which may include health care comprised of dietetic care (if you choose to use a Dietitian);
2. If applicable, communicating with and disclosing Your personal information and personal health information to your referring regulated health provider, if any, and for collecting, using and disclosing your personal information and personal health information from your referring regulated health provider, if any, about your condition and progress throughout the CH program.
3. For quality purposes, which may include but are not limited to one or more of evaluating, measuring and analyzing whether CH is meeting its standards in providing the Services.
4. For risk management, error management or for the purpose of activities to improve or maintain the quality of care or to improve or maintain the quality of any related programs or Services.5. For the purpose of disposing of the information or modifying the information in order to conceal the identity of the individual;
5. To determine eligibility for insurance coverage and payment if you provide such information to CH and with express consent.
6. To handle payments.
7. To train dietitians, coaches, staff and contractors of CH.
8. To keep in touch with you.
9. For administrative purposes related to any of the above purposes.
10. For the purposes described herein and for all the functions reasonably necessary for carrying out these purposes.
11. With your express consent for marketing purposes or for purposes not necessary to provide the Services.

‍

The App collects, uses and discloses your personal information for the following additional purposes, using the following systems:

‍

As the User, you are in sole control as to whether you permit the App to collect information from your device including but not limited to your profession, your geographic location, the personal information and personal health information that may be stored on your device through third party applications, microphone, camera and speech recognition permissions.  If CH uses cookies or trackers not necessary to operate its platform, you will be presented with a banner in Quebec to activate such optional cookies or trackers.

CH will limit its use and disclosure of your personal information to that which is needed to provide the Services, for the purposes identified above unless you expressly authorize CH otherwise or you give your consent for secondary purposes if you are a resident of Quebec.  When personal information or personal health information that has been collected is to be used for a purpose not previously identified, the new purpose will be identified prior to use unless the new purpose is permitted or required by law. Your consent will be required before the information can be used for that purpose. For example, if You choose to allow the App to share Your personal information with another third party application (such as Apple Health or Google Health, for example), You will be notified by the CH App that by permitting sharing, you  are agreeing to allow CH to share your personal information with these third party applications.

Withdrawal of Consent

You can withdraw your consent to the use of your PI or PHI for purposes not necessary to provide the Services; however if you withdraw your consent to the use of your PI or PHI for primary purposes, necessary to render the Services, you will have to cease using the Services.

Consent for the Collection, Use and Disclosure of Personal Information and Personal Health Information

Under PHIPA and PIPEDA, Health Information Custodians and Organizations, respectively, require consent in order to collect, use, or disclose personal health information (“PHI”) and personal information, as PHI and personal information are defined in each Act, respectively. For Quebec Users,  consent is also the main basis for the collection, use or disclosure of personal information, including personal health information.

By using one or more of the Website, Content, User Account and App You consent to Constant Health collecting, using and disclosing your personal information for the purposes listed above. By using one or more of the Website, Content, User Account and App You further consent to the Dietitian collecting, using and disclosing to CH the PHI that you provide to the Dietitian(s) through Your use of one or more of the App, Website, User Account and Content and to CH discussing your PHI with the Dietitians as may be necessary to provide the Services.

By using one or more of the App, User Account, Content and Website, and accepting treatment by a Dietitian, you consent to the Dietitian disclosing your PHI to CH for the purposes of providing the Services, for communicating with CH about your condition and progress through the CH program and for the purposes identified herein.  Further, if you are referred to CH by a regulated health care provider (for example, your family physician or nurse practitioner) you consent to CH disclosing your personal health information collected and used by CH (and its Dietitians and Coaches) back to your referring provider.

You also consent to CH and your referring health care provider, if any, sharing and discussing your personal information and PHI for the purpose of CH providing you with the Services. There are some cases where CH may collect, use or disclose this information without Your consent, but such cases are limited to those permitted or required by law.  

Disclosure to non-health providers

If You, as a User, wish Your lawyer, insurance company, family member, employer, landlord or other third-party individuals or agencies (non-health care providers) to have access to Your record held by Constant Health, You must give Constant Health written consent to this effect by contacting the Constant Health Privacy Officer.  

CH can share your PI or PHI to its service providers, like cloud providers, IT providers, recruitment firms  or other agencies  for  the purpose of rendering the Services, the whole in compliance with applicable privacy laws.

Disclosures to other health care providers for healthcare purposes – Circle of Care

User information may also be released by a Dietitian to a User’s other health care providers for the purposes of rendering the Services (in Quebec) and also for health care purposes (within the “circle of care”) without the express written or verbal consent of the User as long as it is reasonable in the circumstances to believe that the User wants the information shared with the other health care providers and for Quebec, as long as it is necessary to provide the Services. No User information will be released to other health care providers if a User has not consented or has stated that the User does not want the information shared (for instance, by way of the placement of a “lockbox” on the User’s health records). Please note that if you lock sharing of your personal health information, the lock operates on a go-forward basis only and does not operate retrospectively; any personal health information shared prior to imposition of the lockbox is not locked.

A User’s request for treatment by a Dietitian constitutes implied consent for the Dietitian to use and disclose the User’s personal health information for health care purposes and, in Quebec, for the purpose of rendering the Services, unless the User expressly instructs otherwise. By using one or more of the App, User Account, Content and Website, and accepting treatment by a Dietitian, you consent to the Dietitian disclosing your PHI to CH for the purposes of providing the Services, for communicating with CH about your condition and progress through the CH program and for the purposes identified herein.  Further, if you are referred to CH by a regulated health care provider (for example, your family physician or nurse practitioner) you consent to CH disclosing your personal health information collected and used by CH (and its Dietitians and Coaches) back to your referring provider.

Other purposes permitted

There are certain activities for which consent is not required to use or disclose personal information or personal health information or that are considered as part of primary purposes for collecting and using your PI or PHI. These activities are permitted or required by law or considered as part of the Services. For example, CH, Dietitians and Coaches do not need additional consent from Users to (this is not an exhaustive list):

• Plan, administer and manage our internal operations, the App, the Website, programs and Services;
• Get paid
• Engage in quality improvement, error management, and risk management activities
• Participate in the analysis, administration and management of the health care system, with express consent in Quebec;
• Engage in research (subject to certain rules);
• Train our employees, agents and others •Compile statistics for internal or mandatory external reporting in compliance with applicable privacy law;
• Respond to legal proceeding;
• Comply with mandatory reporting obligations

If users have questions about using and disclosing personal information and personal health information without consent, please contact the Privacy Officer identified herein.

Withholding or Withdrawal of Consent

If consent is sought, a User may choose not to give consent (“withholding consent”). If consent is given, a User may withdraw consent at any time, but the withdrawal must be recorded and communicated to CH, a Dietitian or Coach and is not retroactive.  This means that information already communicated to CH will have been collected with consent but going forward, no further collection will occur. The withdrawal may also be subject to legal or contractual restrictions and reasonable notice.   If you withdraw or withhold your consent  for primary purposes you cannot continue your use of the App, Content, User Account and Website, as CH needs such PI or PHI for the purpose of providing  the Services.

Limiting Collection of Personal Information and Personal Health Information

The amount and type of personal information and personal health information collected by the Dietitians and Coaches through CH, or by CH directly from the User is limited to that which is necessary to fulfill the purposes identified. Information is collected directly from the User, unless PHIPA, PIPEDA, or another law permits or requires collection from third parties. Personal information and personal health information are only collected as needed to fulfill the Services.

Limiting Use, Disclosure and Retention of Personal Information and Personal Health Information

Personal information and personal health information are not used for purposes other than those for which such information was collected, except with the consent of the User or as permitted or required by law. CH, the Dietitians and Coaches use the information within the limits of their individual roles. They do not read, look at, receive or otherwise use personal information or personal health information unless they have a legitimate “need to know” as part of their role. If the agent is uncertain, the Privacy Officer will assist.

Disclosure

Personal information and personal health information are not disclosed for purposes other than those for which such information was collected, except with the consent of the User or as permitted or required by law.  Personal information and personal health information may only be disclosed within the limits of each individual’s role. The limitation described above relating to each agent’s role applies.

Retention

Personal information and personal health information are retained as required by law and professional regulations, pursuant to our retention policy and to fulfill the purposes for which the information is collected.  Information that is no longer required to fulfill the identified purposes is securely destroyed, erased, or made anonymous.

Accuracy of Personal Information and Personal Health Information

We will take reasonable steps to ensure that information we hold is as accurate, complete, and up to date as is necessary to minimize the possibility that inappropriate or inaccurate information may be used to make a decision about a User.

Safeguards for Personal Information and Personal Health Information

We have put in place safeguards for the personal information and personal health information we hold, which include:

• Physical safeguards (such as locked doors and cabinets and restricted access to servers)
• Organizational safeguards (such as permitting access to information by staff on a "need-to-know" basis only, confidentiality agreements and privacy training); and
• Technological safeguards (such as the use of passwords, encryption, and audits)

We take steps to ensure that the personal information and personal health information we hold are protected against theft, loss and unauthorized use or disclosure.  We require anyone who collects, uses or discloses personal information and personal health information on our behalf to be aware of the importance of maintaining the confidentiality of the information. This is done through the signing of confidentiality agreements, privacy training, and contractual means.  Care is used in the secure disposal or destruction of personal information and personal health information, to prevent unauthorized parties from gaining access to the information.

Openness about Personal Information and Personal Health Information

Information about our policies and practices relating to our management of personal information and personal health information are available to the public, including:

   •Contact information for our Privacy Officer, to whom complaints or inquiries can be made;

   •The process for obtaining access to personal information and personal health information we hold, and making requests for its correction;

   • A description of the type of personal information and personal health information we hold, including a general account of our uses and disclosures; and

   •A description of how a User may make a complaint about the CH privacy practices, to CH, or to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, the Commission d’accès à l’information in Quebec or the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

User Access to Personal Information and Personal Health Information

Users may make written requests to have access to their records of personal information and personal health information. CH will respond to a User’s request for access within reasonable timelines  or as specified under applicable law and costs to the User, as governed by law. We will take reasonable steps to ensure that the requested information is made available in a format that is understandable. Users who successfully demonstrate the inaccuracy or incompleteness of their information may request that we amend their information. In some cases, instead of making a correction, Users may ask to append a statement of disagreement to their file.

Please Note: In certain situations, we may not be able to provide access to all of the personal information and personal health information we hold about a User, such as where the access could reasonably be expected to result in a risk of serious harm or the information is subject to legal privilege, or in other situations as permitted by law and described below (See Denying User Access to Records).

With limited exceptions, we are required by law to respond within 30 days to Users who make written requests to access their records of personal information and personal health information (subject to a time extension of up to an additional 30 days if necessary and with notice to the person making the request). If you make a request to access your information, please write to or email the Constant Health Privacy Officer at the address below and you will receive a detailed description of the process.

Correction of Records

We have an obligation to correct personal information and personal health information if it is inaccurate or incomplete for the purposes it is to be used or disclosed. Users may request that the information be corrected if it is inaccurate or incomplete. Such requests must be made in writing to the Constant Health Privacy Officer at the address specified below and must explain what information is to be corrected and why. If you make a request for correction of records you will receive a description of the process we follow.

Denying Access to Records. Users must be told if they are being denied access to their own health records. In such cases, Users have a right to complain to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada or, when applicable, to the Commission d’accès à l’information, and must be told of this right and how to reach the respective Commissioner’s office.

E-Mail and Text Communication Policy

Constant Health and its dietitians and coaches have offered to communicate via e-mail and text messaging (including instant messaging) (the “Services”) with clients, for limited purposes.

If you require immediate medical assistance, or if your condition appears serious or rapidly worsens, you should not rely on the Services. Instead, call 9-1-1, go to the nearest Emergency Department or urgent care clinic, or immediately contact your Primary Care Practitioner.

Challenging Compliance with CH’s Privacy Policies and Practices

Any person may ask questions or challenge our compliance with this policy or with PHIPA, Quebec Privacy Law or PIPEDA by contacting our Privacy Officer or the Dietitian or Coach that provided the Services to you.  We will receive and respond to complaints or inquiries about our policies and practices relating to the handling of personal information and personal health information. We will inform Users who make inquiries or lodge complaints of other available complaint procedures.  We will investigate all complaints. If a complaint is found to be justified, we will take appropriate measures to respond.

The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario oversees compliance with privacy rules and PHIPA, and the Privacy Commissioner of Canada oversees compliance with privacy rules and PIPEDA. In Quebec, the Commission d’accès à l’information oversees compliance with privacy rules and the Quebec privacy laws. Any individual can make an inquiry or complaint directly to the respective Commissioner by writing or calling:

‍

Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
2 Bloor Street East, Suite 1400
Toronto, Ontario M4W 1A8 Canada
Phone: 1 (800) 387-0073 (or (416)  326-3333 in Toronto)
Fax: 416-325-9195

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
30, Victoria Street
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 1H3 Canada
Toll-free: 1-800-282-1376
Phone: (819) 994-5444
TTY: (819) 994-6591

Commission d’accès à l’information
Bureau 900
2045, rue Stanley
Montréal (Québec)  H3A 2V4
Téléphone : 514 873-4196
Télécopieur : 514 844-6170

‍

[1] References to the User in this Privacy Policy include the substitute decision-maker of the User, as defined under the Health Care Consent Act, 1996, where applicable. The word user used throughout this policy also includes the user’s substitute-decision maker as defined in PHIPA.

[2] This privacy policy is for Users that use Services provided by CH, as defined in our Terms of Use www.constanthealth.ca/terms-of-use.Information related to privacy practices as between the Dietitians and CH, and the Coaches and CH, are contractually set out between them. For further information, please contact the Privacy Officer.

‍

Appendix A

Risks of Using E-Mail Communication  

The dietitians and coaches and Constant Health will use reasonable means to protect the security and confidentiality of information sent and received by email.  However, because of the risks outlined below, the Dietitians and coaches and Constant Health cannot guarantee the security and confidentiality of e-mail and communication:

• Use of e-mail communications to discuss sensitive information can increase the risk of such information being disclosed to third parties.
• Despite reasonable efforts to protect the privacy and security of e-mail it is not possible to completely secure the information.
• Employers and online services may have a legal right to inspect and keep e-mail communications that pass through their system.
• E-mail can introduce malware into a computer system, and potentially damage or disrupt the computer, networks, and security settings.
• E-mail communications can be forwarded, intercepted, circulated, stored, or even changed without the knowledge or permission of the dietitians and coaches or the client.
• Even after the sender and recipient have deleted copies of e-mail communications, back-up copies may exist on a computer system.
• E-mail communication may be disclosed in accordance with a duty to report or a court order.
• Email can more easily be misdirected, resulting in increased risk of being received by unintended and unknown recipients.
• Email and instant messages can be easier to falsify than handwritten or signed hard copies. It is not feasible to verify the true identity of the sender, or to ensure that only the recipient can read the message once it has been sent.

Conditions of Using the Service  

• While the dietitians and coaches and Constant Health will attempt to review and respond in a timely fashion to your e-mail and text message communication, the dietitians and coaches or Constant Health cannot guarantee that all e-mail and text message communications will be reviewed and responded to within any specific period of time. Text and email will not be used for medical emergencies or other time-sensitive matters.
• If your e-mail and text message communication requires or invites a response from the dietitians and coaches or Constant Health and you have not received a response within a reasonable time period, it is your responsibility to follow up to determine whether the intended recipient received the e-mail and text message communication and when the recipient will respond.
• E-mail and text message communication is not an appropriate substitute for in-person or over-the-telephone communication or clinical examinations, where appropriate, or for attending the Emergency Department when needed. You are responsible for following up on the dietitians and coaches’ or Constant Health’s e-mail and text message communication and for scheduling appointments where warranted.
• E-mail and text message communications concerning diagnosis or treatment may be printed or transcribed in full and made part of your client record. Other individuals authorized to access the record, such as staff and billing personnel, may have access to those communications.
• The dietitians and coaches or Constant Health may forward e-mail and text message communications to staff and those involved in the delivery and administration of your care. The dietitians and coaches or Constant Health might use one or more of e-mail and text message to communicate with those involved in your care. The dietitians and coaches or Constant Health will not forward e-mail and text message communications to third parties, including family members, without your prior written consent, except as authorized or required by law.
• You agree to inform the dietitians and coaches or Constant Health of any types of information you do not want sent via e-mail and text messages. You can add to or modify the above list at any time by notifying the dietitians and coaches or Constant Health in writing.
• Some e-mail and text messages might not be used for therapeutic purposes or to communicate clinical information. Where applicable, the use of e-mail and text message will be limited to education, information, and administrative purposes.
• The dietitians and coaches or Constant Health is not responsible for information loss due to technical failures associated with your software or internet service provider.
• To communicate using e-mail and text message, you must:
  • Reasonably limit or avoid using an employer’s or other third party’s computer.
  • Inform the dietitians and coaches or Constant Health of any changes in the client’s email address, mobile phone number, or other account information necessary to communicate via –mail and text message.
  • Include in the message’s subject line an appropriate description of the nature of the communication (e.g. “prescription renewal”), and your full name in the body of the message.
  • Review all e-mail and text message communications to ensure they are clear and that all relevant information is provided before sending to the dietitians and coaches or Constant Health
  • Ensure the dietitians and coaches and Constant Health are aware when you receive an e-mail and text message communication from the dietitians and coaches, such as by a reply message or allowing “read receipts” to be sent.
  • Take precautions to preserve the confidentiality of e-mail and text message communications, such as using screen savers and safeguarding computer passwords.
  • Withdraw consent only by email or written communication to the dietitians and coaches or Constant Health.

Last updated November 22, 2023