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Privacy Policy

Welcome to the Vancouver Primary Care Networks website (the “Website”) hosted by the Vancouver Division of Family Practice (the “Vancouver Division”, “we”, “us”, or “our”). This Privacy Policy, as amended from time to time, describes how the Vancouver Division collects, uses and discloses your information when you access and use our Website and other electronic means (e.g. online newsletter sign-up form and online surveys conducted by the Vancouver Division), as well as the rights website visitors have with respect to their personal information.  

This document also contains Terms of Use of our Website and other electronic means provided by the Vancouver Division. Use includes accessing this Website or resources associated with us, submitting any information to us, or otherwise interacting in any form with us. Your access to and use of the Website and related services provided by the Vancouver Division is conditioned on your acceptance of and compliance with these Terms of Use. 

    By visiting this Website, signing up for our newsletter, or completing an online survey conducted by the Vancouver Division, you agree to the collection and use of your personal information per this Privacy Policy and Terms of Use (the “Policy”). We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting it by complying with this Policy. 

    We will update this Policy as necessary. Please check it regularly.  

    Definition of “personal information”

    In this Policy, “personal information” means information about an identifiable individual. Some examples of personal information include name, sex, age, weight, height, email address, home address, phone number, medical information, marital or family status, education, employment information, opinions, evaluations, and comments that may identify you as an individual. It may also include more technical information, such as your device’s Internet Protocol (IP) address, browser settings and device ID, but only when this information can identify you as an individual.  

    Information that is aggregated or anonymized and cannot be associated with an identifiable individual is not considered to be personal information. 

    Collection and use of personal information

    We collect personal information you provide to us through our Website and other electronic means (e.g. online newsletter sign-up form and online surveys conducted by the Vancouver Division). We limit the collection of your personal information to what is necessary to provide you with services you choose to receive. This may include, but is not limited to, the following types of personal information you provide directly to us: 

    • Name, sex, and contact information, including your phone number, email address and home neighbourhood/address. We may collect this information when you sign up for our newsletter or participate in our surveys or focus groups. We collect this information to provide you with the service you have requested.  
    • Any other personal information you provide to us through our Website, such as when you contact us for support. The email address provided in a submission will be used to contact the sender in reply to their message.  
    • We also collect some information through automated means, such as through Google Analytics and log files on this Website, including browser type, operating system, and time of access. Analytics may also be collected via the Division’s surveys and communication platforms. This data helps us improve our service and detect any problems. We do not share this information with third parties except when legally required. 

    The Vancouver Division reserves the right to aggregate and anonymize personal information collected and to use such aggregated information as it sees fit, such as to improve and analyze the Website performance and provided services.  

    Limiting use, disclosure and retention of personal information

    The Vancouver Division will not use personal information for purposes other than those for which it was collected, except with the informed consent of the individual or as required by law. The Vancouver Division will not disclose personal information to third parties unless required by law.  

    The Vancouver Division retains personal information as long as needed to achieve the identified purpose(s) or related business or legal obligation. The Vancouver Division is guided by industry standards related to retention schedules or applicable legislation. Personal information that is no longer required to fulfil the identified purposes will be destroyed, erased or made anonymous. 

    Safeguards for personal information

    The Vancouver Division ensures personal information is protected by security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information. We use reasonable and appropriate physical, administrative and technical measures designed to help secure your personal information against accidental or unlawful loss, access or disclosure.  

    Even though we take all necessary steps to protect your personal information, security breaches cannot be eliminated, and we cannot guarantee that no breach will ever occur.  

    This Website is maintained by the Vancouver Division and hosted by Word Press. Word Press provides us with the online platform that allows us to provide the Website to you.  

    Links to Other Sites, Communication Platforms

    This Website may contain links to other websites that we do not operate. The inclusion of any link does not mean that the Vancouver Division endorses that Website. You will be directed to that third party’s site if you click on a third-party link. We strongly advise you to review the privacy policy and terms of use of every site you visit. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for any third-party sites, services’ content, privacy policies or practices. 

    The Vancouver Division may use some third-party survey and communication platforms, including Checkbox, Microsoft Forms, Menti, Eventbrite, Mailchimp, and others as required. These services provide us with secure online platforms to allow us to engage with you. Use of such third-party services is governed by those third parties’ legal terms and privacy policies, which we advise you to review before use. 

    Disclaimer

    This Website is intended to provide information and connect you with resources. The use of the Website is not intended to replace or substitute the advice of a medical professional or other qualified healthcare provider.  

    NO LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS CREATED BY USING INFORMATION AND/OR SERVICES PROVIDED BY OR THROUGH THE USE OF THE WEBSITE OR THROUGH ANY OTHER COMMUNICATIONS FROM US.  

    THE WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE AN EMERGENCY OR CRISIS RESPONSE. IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, CALL “911” FOR AMBULANCE, POLICE, OR FIRE SERVICE IMMEDIATELY, OR GO TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING CHEST PAIN, DIFFICULTY BREATHING OR SEVERE BLEEDING, IN SUCH EVENT CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY OR VISIT YOUR NEAREST HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.  

    The Website is provided to you “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” and with all faults and defects without warranty of any kind. 

    Limitation of Liability

    Your use of the Website is undertaken at your own risk. Under no circumstances will the Vancouver Division or any directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors and suppliers of the Vancouver Division, be liable for any direct, incidental, consequential, indirect, or punitive damages arising out of your access to or use of the Website, your reliance on the Website information or any consequences flowing therefrom. 

    This is a comprehensive limitation of liability that applies to all losses and damages of any kind (whether general, special, consequential, incidental, exemplary, punitive or otherwise, including, without limitation, loss of data, income or profits or failure to realize anticipated benefits), whether based in contract (including fundamental breach), tort (including negligence), strict liability or otherwise, even if we have been advised of or should have known of the possibility of such damages. 

    If you are dissatisfied with the Website and our related services, your sole and exclusive remedy is to discontinue using the Website and related services, provided by the Vancouver Division, as applicable. 

    Changes to this Policy 

    This Policy is subject to occasional revision. We may review and update this Policy as required to keep current with rules and regulations, new technologies and standards. We will post any changes on our Website, and if the changes are significant, we will provide a more prominent notice where required by law. You are advised to review this Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Policy are effective when they are posted on this page. Continued use of the Website following such changes will indicate your acknowledgment of such changes and agreement to be bound by them.  

    Individual access to personal information 

    You may request details regarding the information we hold about you. Upon request, the Vancouver Division informs an individual of the existence, use, and disclosure of their personal information, and the individual has access to that information. An individual has the ability to challenge the accuracy and completeness of the information and have it amended as appropriate, or removed and destroyed. To exercise your rights, please contact us using the contact information detailed under Questions and Contact Information below. 

    Governing Law 

    If you have any concerns or dispute about this Website, you agree first to try to resolve the dispute informally by contacting us using the contact information detailed under Questions and Contact Information below. 

    This Policy and Terms of Use is governed by the laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada. All disputes arising out of or in connection with your use of this Website or related services provided by the Division, shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration or mediation under the rules of the British Columbia International Arbitration Centre. The place of arbitration or mediation shall be Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.  

    Severability 

    If any provision of this Policy is held to be unenforceable or invalid, such provision will be changed and interpreted to accomplish the objectives of such provision to the greatest extent possible under applicable law, and the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect. 

    Questions and Contact Information  

    If you have questions with respect to this Policy or the Vancouver Division’s collection, use or disclosure of your personal information, please contact our Privacy Officer in writing at: 

    Privacy Officer 
    Vancouver Division of Family Practice 
    202 – 777 West Broadway 
    Vancouver, BC V5Z 4J7 
    Email:  privacy@vancouverdivision.com 

    If you are dissatisfied with our handling of your personal information, we invite you to contact our Privacy Officer in writing, stating the reasons for your concern.