The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre has implemented a voluntary self-identification process for Indigenous patients. All patients coming into the hospital upon registration will be asked the question “Would you like to self-identify as Indigenous?” Patients can also self-identify using the web-form below.
Would you like to self-identify as Indigenous?
(First Nation, Métis, Inuit)
Why Self-Identify?
Everyone’s health is important. To better serve the Indigenous population in Northwestern Ontario, we have developed the self-identification process to better understand who our patients are and how we can do things differently.
The goals of this process are:
- Enrich the patient experience, improve health services, and identify areas of need in the health care system
- Provide data to measure the effectiveness of health care
- Improve the quality of care for Indigenous patients
Benefits to Patients:
- Advocacy and Support
- Interpretation Services—Ojibway, Ojicree, Cree
- Spiritual Care Services
- Access to Indigenous Patient Navigator and Indigenous Care Coordinator
- Discharge planning coordination for a smoother transition home
- Access to follow up care
Who can Self-Identify?
All people with Indigenous ancestry are encouraged to self-identify. Indigenous identity is defined in the Canadian Constitution Act (1982), S. 35 (2)
refers to Canada’s original people and includes:
Status: the legal status of a person who is registered as an Indian under the Indian Act.
Non-Status: refers to people who identify as Indians but who are not entitled to Indian Registration under the Indian Act.
Métis: refers to people of mixed Indigenous and European ancestry.
Inuit: refers to Canada’s original people whose homeland is the Canadian Arctic that includes portions of the three Territories: Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, in addition to Northern Quebec and Northern Labrador.
What happens to my information?
This information will become a part of your electronic medical record.
We use and disclose your personal health information to:
- Treat and provide care
- Comply with legal and regulatory requirements
- Obtain payment for your care
- Improve health services efficiency
- Carry out quality assurance activities to improve care and support TBRHSC research programs, risk management activities, education activities, fundraising, and promotion
At Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre your health information is treated with respect and sensitivity and your privacy is protected. We are committed to protecting the privacy, confidentiality, and security of all personal health information.
Who sees my information?
This information is accessible to your health care team and others in accordance with the Personal Health Information Protection Act.
How do I self-identify
Simply fill out the Voluntary Self-Identification declaration form below.