Voluntary Self Identification for Indigenous Patients

Sault Area Hospital (SAH), in partnership with Maamwesying North Shore Community Health Services Inc., has implemented a voluntary self-identifcation process for Indigenous patients accessing care at our hospital. All patients coming into the hospital upon registration will be asked the question:

"Do you Identify as First Nation, Metis, or Inuit?" Tweet
Click here to complete the Voluntary Indigenous Self-Identification Form

Why self-identify?

Your health is important. To better serve the Indigenous populations in Northeastern Ontario, Sault Area Hospital has developed the self-identification process to better understand who our patients are, how their needs may differ, and how we can do things differently.

By implementing this process, our goals are:

  • To enhance the patient experience, improve our health services and identify areas of need and growth.
  • To improve the quality of care for Indigenous patients who receive care at Sault Area Hospital.
  • To provide valuable data to measure the effectiveness of the care we provide.

Benefits of this program:

  • Advocacy and Support
  • Interpretation Services
  • Spiritual Care Services
  • Connect individuals to community services when possible or appropriate.
  • Access to navigation services for in-patients and patients in the Emergency Department
  • 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.

How do I self-identify?

To make this service easily and widely accessible to all patients who seek care at Sault Area Hospital, there are three ways you can choose to participate in the self-identification process.

  1. At your next visit to Sault Area Hospital, you will be asked at registration if you identify as Indigenous. You can self identify at this point at your appointment and the information will be automatically updated in your electronic medical record.
  2. Fill out the Voluntary Indigenous Self-Identification Form. The forms will be sent to Sault Area Hospital’s Health Records Department, where your information will be manually updated by a member of SAH staff.
  3. If you do not have an email address or telephone number, but would still like to self-identify with the hospital – please call (705) 759-3612 (Health Records) and a member of SAH staff will be happy to assist you in the self-identification process.

If you have already chosen to self-identify with us but would like to change your information, please call (705) 759-3612 (Health Records) and a member of SAH staff will be happy to assist you.

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 (OHIP)
  • Improve health services efficiency
  • Carry out quality assurance activities to improve care and support Sault Area Hospital research programs, risk management activities, education activities, fundraising, and promotion

At Sault Area Hospital 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.