Local SEO Consultant for Healthcare Businesses in Canada

Healthcare marketing in Canada requires careful handling of patient information and an understanding that privacy requirements can vary by province and by the type of organization or information involved.

• PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act) sets federal private-sector privacy requirements in circumstances where it applies. Some provinces have privacy legislation considered substantially similar to PIPEDA, so the applicable framework can depend on the organization and the activity involved.
• PHIPA (Personal Health Information Protection Act) governs personal health information in Ontario and establishes rules around its collection, use, and disclosure by health information custodians.
• Quebec privacy requirements include Quebec’s private-sector privacy legislation, commonly associated with the province’s Law 25 reforms. Quebec also has separate rules governing health and social services information.

For my work: I focus on responsible SEO and content practices and avoid asking clients to publish or expose patient information unnecessarily. Healthcare practices should obtain appropriate consent and follow the privacy and professional requirements that apply to their specific situation. In Ontario, for example, PHIPA generally requires consent for the disclosure of personal health information, subject to statutory exceptions.