Privacy Statement
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 consistent with the 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 for these purposes; and 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 brochure is designed to outline how
this 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, make sure the patient knows 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 health 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. The doctors in this practice are members of various medical and professional bodies including medical
defence organizations. There may be occasions when disclosure of patient information is required for medical defence
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 or 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 on 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.
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.