ConnectMD Website Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Edmonton North Primary Care Network, operating as ConnectMD (“ConnectMD”, “we”, “our”, or “us”), is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of personal and health information collected through our website.

This website is intended solely for use by licensed Alberta primary care providers (family physicians and nurse practitioners) seeking non-urgent specialist advice. ConnectMD does not communicate directly with patients.

The ConnectMD website operates in Alberta and complies with the:

• Health Information Act (Alberta) (“HIA”)
• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPP)
• Personal Information Protection Act (Alberta) (“PIPA”)
• Applicable standards of the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (“CPSA”)
• Applicable standards of the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (“CRNA”)

2. Our Contact Information

Legal Name: Edmonton North Primary Care Network

Operating As: ConnectMD

Address: 13211 Fort Road, Edmonton, AB T5A 1C3

Privacy inquiries about this website may be sent through our contact form.

3. Who May Use This Website

This website is restricted to licensed Alberta:

• Physicians & Surgeons (family physicians and specialists)
• Nurse Practitioners

By submitting a non-urgent advice request through this website, the primary care provider confirms they are authorized to disclose patient health information under Alberta’s Health Information Act.

4. Information We Collect Through This Website

A. Patient Health Information

We collect limited patient health information necessary to facilitate specialist-to-primary-care non-urgent telephone advice, including:

• Patient Name
• Alberta Personal Health Number (PHN)
• Date of Birth

No direct contact with patients is made.

B. Provider Information

We collect the following information from submitting providers:

• Name
• PRAC ID
• Clinic Name
• Clinic Phone and/or Fax
• Provider Phone
• Email Address
• Primary Care Network (“PCN”) affiliation

Purpose of Collection

Information is collected solely for the purpose of:

• Facilitating non-urgent specialist advice
• Supporting continuity of care
• Allowing specialists to provide informed guidance
• Maintaining appropriate documentation consistent with CPSA standards

The primary care provider retains full responsibility for patient care and clinical decision-making.

Use of this service does not establish a physician-patient relationship between the specialist and the patient. Additionally, use of this service does not establish a relationship between ConnectMD and the patient.

6. Legal Authority

Under Alberta’s Health Information Act, primary care providers are authorized to disclose relevant health information to another custodian for the purpose of providing health services.

ConnectMD operates as a custodian or affiliate under the HIA and collects, uses, and discloses health information only as permitted by law

7. Data Storage and Security

We take appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect information against unauthorized access, loss, theft, or disclosure.

• Hosting is located within Canada
• A third-party hosting provider is used under contractual privacy and security obligations
• Access to information is restricted to authorized personnel only

8. Retention and Deletion

Information submitted through the website is retained only as long as necessary to complete the request and in accordance with CPSA standards.

Once the request is complete and documentation obligations are satisfied, submitted data is securely deleted.

9. Disclosure of Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade personal or health information.

Information is disclosed only:

• To the responding specialist
• As required by law
• Where authorized or permitted under the Health Information Act

We do not contact patients directly and do not use information for marketing purposes.

10. Accuracy

Submitting providers are responsible for ensuring that the information provided is accurate and complete.

11. Access and Privacy Rights

Under Alberta’s Health Information Act, individuals have the right to request access to their own health information.

The patient’s primary care provider remains the appropriate custodian of record.

Privacy concerns or inquiries may be submitted through our online form.

Individuals may also contact the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta if concerns are not resolved.

12. Non-identifiable information

Some information about your computer hardware and software (eg. IP address, browser type, domain names, access times and referring website addresses) is automatically collected by ConnectMD when you access this website. This information is used by ConnectMD to maintain quality of the service and to diagnose website technical problems. Collection of this data does not result in you being identified as an individual.

13. Website Security

While we implement reasonable safeguards, no electronic transmission can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. Users submitting information acknowledge this inherent risk.

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Updates will be posted on this website with a revised effective date.

Last updated: February 2026