Your privacy –
our policy
The provision of quality
health care requires a doctor-patient relationship of trust and confidentiality.
Consistent with our commitment to quality care, this practice has
developed a policy to protect patient privacy in compliance with privacy
legislation.
Our policy informs you:
• That we need your consent to collect information about you
• Why we need to collect that information
• How your information will be used by us and to whom we may
need to disclose it
• That you may request access to the information that we hold
about you
• That you may discuss any concerns you have about how we handle
your information.
Should you require further information about our privacy policy,
please click here to download a copy of our policy brochure. Alternatively,
please request a copy from our reception.
Your privacy our business
The provision of quality health care is our principle concern. It
requires a doctor-patient relationship of trust and confidentiality.
Your doctor regards patient health information as confidential and
will only collect this information with patient consent. A patient’s
personal information is handled in accordance with this practice’s
privacy policy and is consistent with privacy legislation. Patients
are entitled to know:
• What personal information is held about them
• How and under what circumstances they may have access to it
• Why it is held
• Its use
• To whom and under what circumstances it may be disclosed
• When consent is required
• How it is stored.
Every effort will be made to discuss these matters with patients at
the time personal health information is collected from patients attending
this practice. Because there will be occasions when it is not practicable
to make patients aware of these matters at the time of collection,
this document is designed to outline how our practice endeavours to
protect the privacy of patients’ personal health information.
Collection, use and disclosure of your information
Information about a patient’s medical and family health history
is needed to provide accurate medical diagnoses and appropriate treatment.
We will be fair in the way we collect information about our patients.
This information is generally collected from the patient, and otherwise
with the patient’s consent. However, from time to time we may receive
patient information from others. When this occurs we will, wherever
possible, ensure the patient knows that we have received this information.
Medical care requires full knowledge of patient health information by
all members of a medical team. To ensure quality and continuity of patient
care, a patient’s health information has to be shared with other private
care providers from time to time. Some information about patients is
also provided to Medicare, and private health funds if relevant, for
billing and medical rebate purposes. There are also circumstances where
a medical practitioner is legally bound to disclose personal information.
An example of this is the mandatory reporting of communicable diseases.
It is necessary for us to keep patients’ information after their last
attendance at this practice for as long as is required by law, or is
prudent, having regard to administrative requirements.
Access
A patient has a right to access their information. They may
ask to view the information or ask for a copy of a part of the whole
record. While not required to give reasons for their request, a patient
may be asked to clarify the scope of the request.
There are some circumstances in which access may be denied. But in
such an event, the patient will be advised of the reason.
A charge may be payable where the practice incurs costs in providing
access. This will depend upon the nature of the access.
The material over which the doctor has copyright might be subject
to conditions that prevent further copying or publication without
the doctor’s permission.
If a patient finds that the information held on them is not accurate
or complete, the patient may have that information amended accordingly.
Upon request, a patient’s health information held by this practice
will be made available to another health service provider. Similarly,
information required for insurance purposes will be provided where
the insurer’s request is supported by the patient’s signed
consent form.
Parents /guardians and children
The right of children to privacy of their health information, based
on the professional judgment of the doctor and consistent with the
law, might at times restrict access to this information by parents
or guardians.
Complaints
It is important to us that your expectations about the way in which
we handle your information are the same as ours. Please do not hesitate
to discuss any concerns, questions or complaints about any issues
related to the privacy of your personal information with your doctor.
If you are still dissatisfied, you can register a complaint with the
Federal Privacy Commissioner, whose contact details are:
Level 8, Piccadilly Tower
133 Castlereagh Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
GPO Box 5218
SYDNEY NSW 2001
Privacy hotline: 1300 363 992
Website: http://www.privacy.gov.au
Further information
Further information about an individual’s privacy rights can
be obtained from the Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner.
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