Privacy Notice
The MSF360 program is administered by the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA). As a result, any personal information collected, used, and/or disclosed through the MSF360 program or this website is handled in accordance with CPSA’s Privacy Statement. We collect, use, and/or disclose your personal information with your consent unless otherwise authorized or required by legislation. Personal information is collected and used to carry out CPSA’s work of protecting the public and guiding and regulating Alberta physicians.
Your privacy when using the MSF360 website
Web servers automatically collect certain information when you visit a website, including your Internet Protocol (IP) address. IP addresses are unique numbers Internet Service Providers (ISP) assign to all devices accessing the Internet. The IP address, on its own, may not identify you as an individual. However, in certain circumstances, such as with the co-operation of an ISP for example, it can identify an individual. For this reason, CPSA considers IP addresses as personal information, particularly when combined with other data automatically collected such as the page or pages visited, date and time of the visit, etc.
Unless otherwise noted, CPSA does not automatically gather any specific information from you, such as your name, telephone number or email address. We collect this type of information only if you supply it to us. In such cases, we will handle your personal information consistent with CPSA’s policy on Privacy & Confidential Information.
Please note, in cases where organizations outside of CPSA provide services, such as social media platforms or mobile applications, Web servers of a third-party ISP may record your IP addresses.
Communicating with the MSF360 team
If you choose to send the MSF360 tea, an email or complete a feedback form online, we may use your personal information to respond to your inquiry. We never use the information to create individual profiles and we will not disclose the information to anyone other than those who need to provide you with a response. Any disclosure of your personal information is in accordance with CPSA’s policy on Privacy & Confidential Information.
Emails and other electronic methods are not secure unless a web page specifically states so. Therefore, we recommend that you do not send sensitive personal information, such as your date of birth, through non-secure electronic means.
We collect personal information from emails or completed feedback forms in accordance with CPSA’s policy on Privacy & Confidential Information. We may use such information for statistical, evaluation and reporting purposes.
Improving your experience on the MSF360 website
Digital markers (including cookies)
A digital marker is a resource created by your browser in order to remember certain pieces of information for the web server to reference during the same or subsequent visit to a website. Examples of digital markers are “cookies” or HTML5 web storage. Some examples of what digital markers do are as follows:
- they allow a website to recognize a previous visit each time you accesses the site;
- they track what information you view on a site which helps website administrators ensure you find what you’re are looking for.
CPSA uses sessional digital markers on the MSF360 website. During your online visit, your browser exchanges data with the CPSA’s web server. When you close your browser, this digital marker does not remain on your computer. As such, the digital marker used does not allow CPSA to identify you upon subsequent visits.
You may adjust your browser settings to reject digital markers, including cookies, if you so choose. Visiting our website with cookies disabled will have no significant impact on your browsing experience on the MSF360 site. Please consult your browser’s Help Menu for instructions.
Web analytics
Web analytics is the collection, analysis, measurement, and reporting of data about web traffic and visits for purposes of understanding and optimizing web usage.
When your computer requests a MSF360 web page, we collect the following types of information for web analytics using digital markers (as described above):
- the originating IP address
- the date and time of the request
- the type of browser used
- the page(s) visited
Information we collect and use for the purpose of web analytics is in accordance with our mandate under the Health Professions Act. We may use such data to improve the MSF360 website as well as for communications and information technology statistical purposes, audit, evaluation, research, planning and reporting.
We do not disclose this information to any external third party service providers.
Protecting the security of the MSF360 website
CPSA employs software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage. This software receives and records the IP address of the computer that contacts our website, the date and time of the visit and the pages visited. We make no attempt to link these addresses with the identity of individuals visiting our site unless we detect an attempt to damage the site.
We may share information with appropriate law enforcement authorities if we detect suspected criminal activities. We may use such information for network security related statistical purposes, audit, evaluation, research, planning and reporting.
Inquiring about these practices
Please direct any questions, comments, concerns or complaints you may have regarding privacy and the College’s web presence to our Chief Information & Privacy Officer:
Jim Kiddoo
Jim.Kiddoo@cpsa.ab.ca
T: 780-392-3123 or Toll-Free: 1-800-561-3899 ext. 3123
2700 – 10020 100 Street NW | Edmonton AB T5J 0N3
If you are not satisfied with CPSA’s response to your privacy concerns, you may contact:
Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (Edmonton)
Suite 410, 9925 109 Street NW
Edmonton, AB T5K 2J8
Phone: 780-422-6860 or Toll-Free: 888-878-4044
Fax: 780-422-5682
generalinfo@oipc.ab.ca
Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (Calgary)
Suite 2460, 801 6 Avenue SW
Calgary, AB, T2P 3W2
Phone: 403-297-2728 or Toll-Free: 888-878-4044
Fax: 403-297-2711
generalinfo@oipc.ab.ca
Linking to non-CPSA websites
We provide links to websites not under the control of CPSA solely for the convenience of your website visit. CPSA is not responsible for the accuracy, currency or reliability of the content. We do not offer any guarantee in that regard and we are not responsible for the information found through these links, nor do we endorse the sites and their content.
Please be aware that information offered by non-CPSA sites via our website links is not subject to CPSA’s policy on Privacy & Confidential Information. With respect to privacy, you should research the privacy policies of these non-CPSA websites before providing personal information.
Ownership and usage of content provided on this site
Materials on the MSF360 website provide you with access to information about the programs and services we offer. You may use and reproduce the materials as follows:
Non-commercial reproduction
Unless otherwise specified, you may reproduce the materials in whole or in part for non-commercial purposes, and in any format, without charge or further permission, provided you do the following:
- Exercise due diligence in ensuring the accuracy of the materials reproduced;
- Indicate both the complete title of the materials reproduced, as well as the author (where available); and
- Indicate that the reproduction is a copy of the version available on CPSA’s website.
Commercial reproduction
Unless otherwise specified, you may not reproduce materials on this site, in whole or in part, for the purposes of commercial redistribution without prior written permission from CPSA. To obtain permission to reproduce CPSA materials on this site for commercial purposes, contact:
College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta
Communications Department
2700 – 10020 100 Street NW
Edmonton, AB T5J ON3
E-mail: info@cpsa.ab.ca
Some content on this site may be subject to the copyright of another party. For example, information CPSA has not produced or does not hold copyright. The Copyright Act and international agreements protect these materials.
Trademark notice
You cannot reproduce CPSA’s logo or the MSF360 logo for any commercial or non-commercial purposes without prior written authorization from the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA).