Download Money Order Transfer Form

Imprest Petty Cash Procedures

The Government of Nunavut has provided OHSNI with a Petty Cash Fund.  This fund is intended to facilitate the transfer of cash to patients, under certain conditions, while they are undergoing medical treatment in Ottawa.   The intent of this cash transfer system is to allow patients to be able to purchase medical supplies and any personal care items needed for an unexpected stay in Ottawa.  Note: Pre-booked appointments are not unexpected.  Medivacs and unexpected additional appointments are. (for example: a person comes south for one doctor's visit and then finds they need to spend many months in Ottawa)

This fund is not meant for general shopping monies. 

It is the responsibility of OHSNI to properly administer this cash.

The general procedure is a family member will initiate a cash transfer (from the north).  He/she will purchase a draft or money order, payable to OHSNI and take the draft to the local health centre.  The Health Centre will fax to OHSNI a copy of the draft, the name of the patient involved, as well as some other detail on the form provided.  Upon receipt of the fax and evidence of the draft payable to OHSNI, OHSNI will release the cash to the patient. The Health Centre will mail to OHSNI the draft, thus reimbursing the amount of cash disbursed. There is no charge for this service.

Cash Transfers are to a maximum of $200. per patient per visit. 

Consideration may be given to those patients who are south for an extended period of time.   Additional money orders, to the maximum of $200 each, will be accepted for each additional completed month the patient remains in Ottawa.

Proof of Payment is most often in the form of a postal money order.  Northern Store or    Co-op drafts are also acceptable. Drafts/money orders should be made payable to Ottawa Health Services Network Inc (OHSNI).  They should not be made payable to the patient.  A personal cheque is never acceptable as proof of payment.  Money Orders greater than $200 will be returned to sender.  Money orders made payable to the individual will be handed to the individual or returned to the sender, should the patient have returned north.

The fax cover will contain the following information: Originating office, phone and fax numbers, date, name of staff in originating office, name of sending party, name of receiving party, draft or money order number, dollar amount of transfer.
Photocopy of draft or money order, all on a one-page document. (Sample Attached)

The local office will fax the request to OHSNI at 613-523-8163 to the attention of W. Greenley or M. Du.  The originating office (north) will then mail the money order, along with a copy of the faxed request to OHSNI  at 120- 1929 Russell Road, Ottawa, ON. K1G 4G3

OHSNI: OHSNI Staff in Ottawa will verify the information on the fax request and release cash to the patient, providing all is in order. The patient will sign the paperwork upon receipt of cash. This signed document will be returned to OHSNI (Finance) as proof of delivery.  Only the person identified as the recipient can receive the actual money.

Money orders will be mailed to OHSNI (Finance) for deposit as described above, thus replenishing the cash paid out.