Privacy Policy
Effective Date: August / 2026
At Hitchon’s Hearing Centre, we are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of our patients, clients, and website visitors. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our website or interact with our clinic.
We are committed to complying with applicable Canadian privacy legislation, including the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and any applicable provincial privacy laws.
Information We Collect
Personal Information
We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide through our website, including:
- Name
- Email address
- Telephone number
- Mailing address (if provided)
- Information submitted through contact forms
- Information relating to hearing concerns or services you are requesting
Please do not submit sensitive medical information through our website unless specifically requested.
Website Information
When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain technical information, including:
- IP address
- Browser and device information
- Pages visited
- Time spent on our website
- Referring website
- General geographic location
- Cookie information
How We Use Your Information
We may use your information to:
- Respond to inquiries
- Schedule appointments
- Provide information about our hearing services
- Improve our website and customer experience
- Communicate appointment-related information
- Meet legal and regulatory obligations
- Maintain website security
We will only use your personal information for the purposes for which it was collected unless otherwise permitted or required by law.
Protection of Personal Information
We take reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, disclosure, or alteration.
While we strive to use commercially acceptable methods to protect your information, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure.
Cookies and Analytics
Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to:
- Improve website functionality
- Remember user preferences
- Analyze website traffic
- Enhance your browsing experience
We may use services such as Google Analytics to better understand how visitors use our website. Google Analytics collects information such as pages viewed, time spent on the website, browser type, and general location. This information is aggregated and does not personally identify individual visitors.
You may disable cookies through your web browser settings; however, doing so may affect certain website features.
Third-Party Services
Our website may include third-party services such as:
- Google Maps
- Google Analytics
- Embedded videos
- Social media links
These third-party providers have their own privacy policies governing how they collect and process information.
Appointment Requests
If you submit an appointment request through our website, the information you provide will be used solely for the purpose of contacting you and arranging your appointment.
Submitting an online appointment request does not establish a healthcare provider-patient relationship until an appointment has been confirmed.
Disclosure of Information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information.
We may disclose personal information only when:
- Required by law
- Necessary to provide requested services
- Required to protect the rights, safety, or property of our clinic or others
- Authorized by your consent
Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected or as required by applicable laws and professional record retention requirements.
Your Privacy Rights
You may request access to the personal information we hold about you and request corrections if the information is inaccurate or incomplete, subject to applicable legal requirements.
Questions regarding your personal information may be directed to our Privacy Officer.
Children’s Privacy
Our website is intended for general audiences. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without appropriate parental or guardian consent.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated Effective Date.