Privacy Policy personal patient information

Introduction

This privacy policy is to provide you with information on how your personal information (which includes your health information) is collected and used within this practice, and the circumstances in which I may share it with others.

Why and when your consent is necessary: 

When you become a patient of this practice, you provide consent for me to access and use your personal information so I can provide you with the best possible health care. Only staff who need to see your personal information will have access to it. If I need to use your information for anything else, I will seek consent from you to do this. If you do not provide this information; I may be unable to treat you.

Why do I collect, use, hold and share your personal information?

This practice will need to collect your personal information to provide quality healthcare services to you. The main purpose for collecting, using, holding, and sharing your personal information is to thoroughly assess and manage your health needs. I also use it for administrative purposes of the practice, billing, for directly related business activities, such as payments, practice audits, and business processes.

What personal information do I collect?

The information collected about you includes your:

• Names, date of birth, addresses, contact details, occupation
• Medical information including presenting complaint, medical history, current and previous medications, known allergic reactions, adverse events, immunisations, past and family history, relevant lifestyle history, risk factors, findings from pathology tests or other investigations.

Dealing with me anonymously

You have the right to deal with me anonymously or under a pseudonym unless it is impracticable for me to do so or unless I am required or authorised by law to only deal with identified individuals.

How do I collect your personal information?

This practice may collect your personal information in several ways.

• When you make your first appointment, I will collect your personal and demographic information via your registration.
• During the course of providing health care services, I may collect further personal information.
• I may also collect your personal information when you visit our website, send an email or SMS, telephone me, make an online appointment or communicate with me using social media.
• In some circumstances, personal information may also be collected from other sources. Often this is because it is not practical or reasonable to collect it from you directly. This may include information from:
• Your guardian or responsible person
• Other involved health care providers, such as specialists, allied health professionals, hospitals, community health services and pathology and diagnostic imaging services
• Your health fund, Medicare, or the Department of Veterans Affairs (as necessary).

When, why and with whom do I share your personal information?

• I will only disclose your personal information for the purpose or purposes of consultation with another practitioner or as otherwise permitted by law, and only with your consent. This may include disclosure of information to your doctors or other health professionals. In the case of insurance or compensation claim, it may be necessary to disclose and or collect information that concerns your return to work to an insurer or your employer.
• Only people who need to access your information will be able to do so. Other than in the course of providing health care services or as otherwise described in this policy, this practice will not share personal information with any third party without your consent.
• I will not share your personal information with anyone outside Australia (unless under exceptional circumstances that are permitted by law) without your consent.
• This practice will not use your personal information for marketing any goods or services to you without your express consent. If you do consent, you may opt out of direct marketing at any time by notifying this practice in writing.
• This practice may use your personal information to improve the quality of the services offered to patients through research and analysis of patient data.

How do I store and protect your personal information?

Your personal information may be stored at the practice in various forms, including paper records and electronic records. Personal details include your name, address, email address and phone number. Sensitive information as defined in the Privacy Act includes information or opinion about such things as race or ethnic origin, political opinion, membership of a political association, trade union or professional body, religious or philosophical beliefs, criminal record and health information. This practice stores all personal and sensitive information securely.

Any hard copy personal records are kept in a locked cupboard in a secured location. Scanned and digital records are entered into a CMS (third-party Clinic Management System) where your information is secured by way of username, password, and encryption. The associated CMS is an Australian company that complies with the Australian Privacy Act and has its own privacy policy.

Staff members who may be employed at the clinic will be required to sign confidentiality agreements.

How can you access and correct your personal information?

You have the right to request access to, and correction of, your personal information.

This practice acknowledges patients may request access to their medical records. I require you to put this request in writing by filling out a request form available by email or in person from the clinic. I will respond within a reasonable time of 30 days. A small fee may be charged if photocopies are required rather than a digital copy.

I will take reasonable steps to correct your personal information where the information is not accurate or up to date. From time to time, I will ask you to verify that your personal information is correct and current. You may also request that I correct or update your information. You should make such requests in writing to me at info@healthyissues.com.au

How can you lodge a privacy-related complaint, and how will the complaint be handled at this practice?

I take complaints and concerns regarding privacy seriously. You should express any privacy concerns you may have in writing. I will then attempt to resolve it by our resolution procedure. Address your concerns by emailing info@healthyissues.com.au Attention Anne-Maree Sullivan, Healthy Issues, 152 Geelong Road, Torquay, VIC 3228 Response turnaround time 30 days.

You may also contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). Generally, the OAIC will require you to give them time to respond before they will investigate. For further information, visit www.oaic.gov.au or call the OAIC on 1300 363 992.

Privacy and website

If you visit our website and provide your contact details, your personal information will be managed in accordance with this privacy policy. Please be aware though that this website is linked to the internet which is inherently insecure and although every effort will be made to protect you against unauthorised disclosure, if you send information via the internet, you will do so at your own risk.

Cookies: Cookies are files placed into your computer’s browser to store your preferences. Cookies help to make a website easier to navigate. By themselves, they do not identify you or hold your email address. They may indicate such things as traffic on the website. You have an option to turn cookies off but note this may restrict access to certain parts or functionality of the website.

Policy review statement

This practice policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure that it is in accordance with any changes that may occur. As soon as practicable, we will take steps to notify you by means of an email or posted notice on this website,

This policy is current as of 20 November 2024