Privacy Policy (current as at March 2023)
Introduction
This privacy policy is to provide information to you, our patient, on how your personal information (which includes your health information) is collected and used within our practice, and the circumstances in which we may share it with third parties.
Why and when your consent is necessary?
When you register as a patient of our practice, you provide consent for our GPs and practice staff to access and use your personal information so they can provide you with the best possible healthcare. Only staff who need to see your personal information will have access to it. If we need to use your information for anything else, we will seek additional consent from you to do this.
Why do we collect, use, hold and share your personal information?
Our practice will need to collect your personal information to provide healthcare services to you. Our main purpose for collecting, using, holding and sharing your personal information is to manage your health. We also use it for directly related business activities, such as financial claims and payments, practice audits and accreditation, and business processes (eg staff training).
What personal information do we collect?
The information we will collect about you includes:
– Names, date of birth, addresses, contact details
– Medical information including medical history, medications, allergies, adverse events, immunisations, social history, family history and risk factors
– Medicare number (where available) for identification and claiming purposes
– Healthcare identifiers
– Health fund details
Dealing with us anonymously
You have the right to deal with us anonymously or under a pseudonym unless it is impracticable for us to do so or unless we are required or authorised by law to only deal with identified individuals.
We value your opinion, both positive and negative. Please let us know if we can improve our service to you.
If you have a complaint, we would like to know immediately so we can address the problem. Please contact or write to our Practice Manager, Topsy Della Mora.
If you feel there is a problem, you wish handled outside the practice you may contact.
Office of Health Review Ph (08) 9323 0600
How do we collect your personal information?
Our practice will collect your personal information:
1. When you make your first appointment our practice staff will collect your personal and demographic information via your registration.
2. During the course of providing medical services, we may collect further personal information through Electronic Transfer of Prescriptions (eTP), MyHealth Record/PCEHR system, e.g., via Shared Health Summary, Event Summary.
3. 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 healthcare 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 Veteran’s Affairs (as necessary)
Who do we share your personal information with?
We sometimes share your personal information:
– With third parties who work with our practice for business purposes, such as accreditation agencies or information technology providers – these third parties are required to comply with APPs and this policy
– With other healthcare providers
– When it is required or authorised by law (eg court subpoenas)
– When it is necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to a patient’s life, health or safety or public health or safety, or it is impractical to obtain the patient’s consent
– To assist in locating a missing person
– To establish, exercise or defend an equitable claim
– For the purpose of confidential dispute resolution process
– When there is a statutory requirement to share certain personal information (eg some diseases require mandatory notification)
– During the course of providing medical services, through Electronic Transfer of Prescriptions (eTP), MyHealth Record/PCEHR system (eg via Shared Health Summary, Event Summary).
Only the relevant information necessary to meet the requirements will be provided.
Only people that need to access your information will be able to do so. Other than in the course of providing medical services or as otherwise described in this policy, our practice will not share personal information with any third party without your consent.
We will not share your personal information with anyone outside Australia (unless under exceptional circumstances that are permitted by law) without your consent.
Our practice will not use your personal information for marketing any of our goods or services directly to you without your express consent. If you do consent, you may opt-out of direct marketing at any time by notifying our practice in writing.
How do we store and protect your personal information?
Your personal information may be stored at our practice in various forms including electronic records, visual (X-rays, CT scans, videos, and photos)
Our practice stores all personal information securely in electronic format, in protected information systems.
Secure passwords for all doctor’s and staff, confidentiality agreements for staff and contractors.
How can you access and correct your personal information at our practice?
You have the right to request access to, and correction of, your personal information.
Our practice acknowledges patients may request access to their medical records. We require you to put this request in writing to the Practice Principal or Practice Manager and our practice will respond within 30 days.
A fee may apply for administration costs (i.e., photocopying and collation).
Our practice will take reasonable steps to correct your personal information where the information is not accurate or up to date. From time-to-time, we will ask you to verify your personal information held by our practice is correct and up to date. You may also request that we correct or update your information, and you should make such requests in writing to Practice Manager, Seacrest Medical Centre, 28 Seacrest Drive Sorrento WA 6020 Requests may also be sent by email smc.reception@seacrestmc.com.au
How can you lodge a privacy related complaint, and how will the complaint be handled at our practice?
We take complaints and concerns regarding privacy seriously. You should express any privacy concerns you may have in writing. We will then attempt to resolve it in accordance with our resolution procedure.
If you have a complaint, we would like to know immediately so we can address the problem. Please address correspondence to the Practice Manager, Seacrest Medical Centre 28 Seacrest Drive Sorrento 60210 or email smc.reception@seacrestmc.com.au A response will be given within 30 days from the date correspondence is received. If you feel there is a problem you wish handled outside the practice, you may contact:
The Health and Disability Services Complaints Office Complaints and enquiries line: (08) 6551 7600
(HaDSCO) Fax: (08) 6551 7630
GPO Box B61 Country Free Call: 1800 813 583
Perth WA 6838 TTY: (08) 6551 7640
You may also contact the 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 336 002
Policy review statement
This privacy policy will be reviewed every year or earlier if required by law. Any changes will be made accordingly, and patients will be notified via our Practice Newsletter at reception. The amended Privacy Policy will be available at reception.