Privacy Policy
Your medical record is a confidential document. It is the policy of this practice to maintain security of personal health information at all times and to ensure that this information is only available to authorised staff members.
This practice has developed a policy to protect patient privacy in compliance with the Australian Privacy Legislation's National Principles.
Collection and Use of Your Medical Information
To provide a quality ongoing health care service, this practice collects information about all of its patients. Sensitive information such as your current and previous medical conditions and family health history are necessary to provide an accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment and ongoing health care. Other personal information is required so we can contact you about your health and for billing and refund purposes.
Disclosure of Your Information
GP's and staff will ensure that personal health information is disclosed to third parties only where your consent has been obtained. The exception to this rule is where disclosure is necessary to manage a serious imminent threat to your health or welfare, or it is required by law.
Your personal health information and your medical records may be collected, used and disclosed for the following reasons:
- For communicating relevant information with other treating doctors, specialists or allied health professionals.
- For follow-up reminder/recall notices.
- For National/State or Territory registers. (eg. Immunisation data).
- For State/Territory reminder systems. (eg. Cervical screening - pap smears reminders).
- Accounting/Medicare/Health Insurance procedures - information will be limited to the minimum required to obtain insurance rebates.
- Quality assurance activities such as accreditation. The practice will advise you when accreditation is occurring by placing a notice in the foyer prior to the survey visit. You will be given the opportunity of refusing the accreditation surveyors access to your health information.
- For disease notification as required by law. (eg. Infectious diseases).
- For use by all doctors in this group practice when consulting with you.
- For legal related disclosure as required by a court of law. (eg. subpoena, court order, suspected child abuse).
- For research purposes. (de-identified, meaning you are not able to be identified from the information given).
Data Quality and Security of Your Information
The practice endeavours to maintain accurate, up-to-date, and complete records. You can help us in this task by informing us of any changes to names and contact details. All information may be stored on paper and/or electonic formats.
It is the policy of the practice to protect your information from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.
Your health information will be kept for a minimun period as is legally required for administrative purposes. If your information is no longer needed after this time, it will be destroyed in a secure manner.
Access and Correction of Your Information
Under Australian Privacy Legislation, you have the right to access your information. You can ask to view your information or have a copy of all or part of your records. There are some circumstances, such as for legal reasons, where access to your medical information may be denied, but if this is the case, you will be advised of the reason for the refusal.
There may be charges involved in providing copies of all or part of your records. Information may not be available immediately, please allow a minimum of 4 working days for an access time to be arranged or for information to be collated and copied.
Anonymity
Under Privacy Legislation, you can choose to remain anonymous if it is lawful and practicable to do so. In a medical context it could be dangerous for you to remain anonymous and if you choose to do this, you are urged to use a consistent alias or code to enable records to be kept for continuity of care. Normal fee arrangements will apply however, a Medicare rebate may not be able to be claimed in the absence of identifying information.
Complaints
If you have any complaints about the way this practice deals with your information, please discuss these with your GP.
If you are still concerned after speaking to your GP, please contact:
GPO Box 5218
SYDNEY NSW 2001
Ph: 1300 363 992
Fax: (02) 9284 9666
Email: privacy@privacy.gov.au