The Alberta College of Optometrists (ACO) is committed to
protecting the privacy of our regulated members and members
of the public. The ACO will comply with privacy legislation
through our Privacy Policy Statement and subsequent Privacy
Policy updates.
1. Data Collection
The ACO collects personal information from its members
and the general public for the following purposes:
- Creating and maintaining registration records
about regulated and other members
- Creating and maintaining registration records
about optometric professional corporations and limited liability
partnerships
- Creating and maintaining records about the
ACO Continuing Competency Program including the ACO Code
of Ethics, Standards of Practice, Guidelines and Advisories
- Creating and maintaining records about patient/public
complaints, resolution, grievance, mediation, alterative
complaints resolution, investigations, hearing tribunals,
limitations, suspensions, cancellations and appeals.
- To fulfill its government mandated requirements
for the provision of continuing education courses, seminars,
workshops, etc. to its members.
- To confirm or request a member’s good
standing in Alberta or from other jurisdictions
- To answer questions from the general public
regarding the membership register
- To facilitate Annual General or Special
General meetings of the ACO
- To meet all legal and regulatory requirements
- To fulfill all other government mandated
requirements.
2. Consent
Whenever possible, the ACO obtains express consent for the
collection, use, disclosure, retention and destruction of
personal information. In all other cases, the ACO assumes
implied consent. As required by law, the ACO could, from time
to time; collect, use, disclose, retain or destroy personal
information without consent.
3. Disclosure
As a general rule, the ACO does not make the list of regulated
and other members available to advertising and other business
groups. We do supply a list of newly registered members (names,
mailing address and contact phone number) with the Alberta
Association of Optometrists. Every ACO member will receive
a printed copy of our entire register on a yearly basis. This
register is also available to all our members on the member’s
side of the ACO web-site. A limited roster listing the name,
practice address and practice phone number is available to
everyone on the public side of the ACO web-site.
4. Retention
As required by government legislation, the ACO retains all
records for a period of ten years.
5. Protection
The ACO will take all reasonable steps to ensure that all
personal information collected is protected from unauthorized
persons. This includes:
- Computer stations are equipped with password
protection and encryption capacity
- Paper files are kept away from public areas
in the office
- Upon destruction, paper files are shredded,
electronic records are deleted and hard drives destroyed.
All ACO Council members, staff and consultants sign a privacy
statement.
6. Access
Members of the public and the profession can request access
to ACO records through the ACO Privacy Officer. All requests
to change or correct personal information (other than routine
updating) must be made through the ACO Privacy Officer. If
a copy of the personal information is requested, the ACO will
provide an estimate of the copying and mailing cost ahead
of time.
7. Privacy Officer
The ACO Privacy Officer is:
Dr. Gordon Hensel
#102 8407 - Argyll Road NW
Edmonton, Alberta T6C 4B2
Phone: (780) 466-5999 or 1-800-668-2694
Fax: (780) 466-5969 |
