RideSupporter Electronic Communication & Consent Policy

This Policy explains how RideSupporter uses electronic communication (email and text message) with Clients and Personal Support Workers (PSWs). It is designed to meet the requirements of Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA) and to ensure clear expectations for everyone involved.

1. Purpose

RideSupporter uses email and text messages to send essential booking details, confirmations, status updates, and safety notifications. These communications are necessary for the safe and effective delivery of RideSupporter services.

2. Communications with Clients

By booking a RideSupporter service, you (the Client) acknowledge and agree that:

• RideSupporter may send you confirmations, reminders, and status updates about your booking by email or text.

• These messages may include limited personal details such as your name, appointment time, clinic location, recovery address, and emergency contact.

• While RideSupporter uses secure systems to send these messages, email and text are not fully secure methods of communication. There is some risk that your information could be read or accessed by someone else (for example, if your email or phone is shared, compromised, or misdirected).

• You are responsible for protecting access to your own email account and phone.

• You may withdraw consent for electronic communication at any time by contacting RideSupporter, though this may affect our ability to provide services.

3. Communications with PSWs

By providing services through RideSupporter, you (the PSW) acknowledge and agree that:

• You will receive limited client details (such as client name, phone number, clinic name, appointment time, recovery address, and emergency contact) by email or text, in addition to access through the RideSupporter Team Dashboard.

• By using your personal email or phone for these notifications, you accept the risks associated with receiving PHI (Personal Health Information) in this format.

• You must:

• Use client information only to perform your RideSupporter duties.

• Keep all client information confidential and secure.

• Not forward, copy, or store client details outside RideSupporter systems except as necessary for your assignment.

• Use passwords or other safeguards to protect your email and phone.

• Immediately report to RideSupporter if client information is lost, stolen, or misdirected.

• Unauthorized use or disclosure of PHI may result in termination of your contract, financial liability, and legal consequences under PHIPA.

4. General Safeguards

• RideSupporter minimizes the amount of PHI shared by email/text and limits it to essential booking information.

• More detailed information (if required) is available only through the secure RideSupporter Team Dashboard.

• RideSupporter continually reviews its practices to align with PHIPA and industry standards.

5. Questions

If you have questions about this Policy or about your consent to electronic communications, please contact use our Contact Form.