Safe reporting

The Safe Reporting Line receives reports of Wrongdoing. It is an independent third-party service provided by the Neutral Zone to support a fair, neutral, safe, confidential, and effective complaints resolution process. 

You can make a report to the Safe Reporting Line by phone, e-mail or mail.

Toll Free: 1-888-999-1689

E-mail: PHCReporting@theneutralzone.ca

Mail: The Neutral Zone, 252-2055 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5N 0C7

The Safe Reporting Line is for anyone to use.

Employees are encouraged to talk to their manager/supervisor first. If management has not responded satisfactorily to a reported Wrongdoing or if other reporting mechanisms do not apply, then contact the Safe Reporting Line. 

You can make a report of real or suspected Wrongdoing about anyone working on behalf of Providence Health Care, including employees, physicians, contractors, managers, and senior executives.

“Wrongdoing” means any real or suspected wrongful act and includes, but is not limited to:

• mistreatment of patients, staff, or other individuals;
• actions that pose a danger to patients, public health, or the environment;
• actions or omissions that are unlawful;
• theft, fraud, bribery, or corruption;
• unethical or unprofessional conduct;
• unauthorized use, misuse, or waste of public funds or resources;
• non-compliance with procurement rules or other unfair trade practices;
• actions that are not in compliance with PHC policies or procedures, internal financial controls, or audit procedures; or
• continuing to act while in a real or perceived conflict of interest.

In some cases, another more appropriate reporting mechanism may exist for the type of concern raised. For example, a concern about the quality of patient care may be referred to the PHC Patient Care Quality Office. 

Please consider the following options if Safe Reporting is not the right resource:

• Concerns related to Occupational Health and Safety: ohs@providencehealth.bc.ca
• Concerns about the workplace environment: phcnobully@providencehealth.bc.ca;
• Privacy breaches or unauthorized access, collection, use, or disclosure of personal information, are reported to the Information Access and Privacy Office at privacy@providencehealth.bc.ca; 
• Concerns about quality of care: PHC’s Patient Care Quality Office at phcpcqo@providencehealth.bc.ca or 604-806-8284; 
• Concerns about patient safety: Staff may report through PSLS; and
• The Public Interest Disclosure Act form.

Reporters of Wrongdoing, and those participating in investigations of Wrongdoing, will be treated in a supportive manner.

Providence will not take any direct or indirect reprisal against Staff or other individuals for reporting Wrongdoing in good faith and based on a reasonable belief, or who participate in an investigation into Wrongdoing.

PHC will not dissuade anyone from making a Safe Report. Reporter protections will apply regardless of the mechanism used to report the Wrongdoing. 

Yes, reports may be made anonymously to the Safe Reporting Line. 

However, individuals making a report are encouraged to provide their name and contact information to the Safe Reporting Line to allow for follow up and clarification. 

More information can be found in the Providence Health Care Safe Reporting Policy.