Collingwood Beach Medical Practice is committed to protecting the privacy of your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988. The Australian Privacy Principles which came into effect in March 2014, in conjunction with other Privacy Legislation, set the standards for the way Collingwood Beach Medical Practice handles personal information. This Privacy Statement explains how the Practice will manage your personal information.
What is a patient health record
A health record is a confidential compilation of pertinent facts of an individual’s health history, including all past and present medical conditions, illnesses, and treatments. The information documented in the health record is created by all health care professionals providing care and is used for continuity of care.
About privacy
You have the right to have your personal information kept private. We are bound by strict confidentiality and secrecy provisions. These provisions limit how we use your information and when and to whom it can be released. We also have obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.
What is privacy
The Privacy Act contains 13 Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) which regulate the way we collect, store, provide access to, use and disclose personal information.
The Privacy Act provides you with a number of rights, including:
- You will generally be told what kind of information we are collecting and how we collect it
- You will generally be told why your personal information is being collected
- Your personal information can only be collected for a lawful purpose
- You can ask to see what information we hold about you. The Freedom of Information Act 1982 also supports this
- Your personal information must be stored securely and protected from interference or misuse
You can make a complaint to us about the way your personal information has been handled.
Collection and use of information
When we collect your personal information, it must be reasonably necessary for, or directly related to our activities.
In addition to requesting information from you, we may also obtain information about you and your family from other third parties.
Any personal information we receive from a third party is treated the same as if you provided it.
What we collect
The information we will collect about you includes:
- Name, date of birth, address, contact details
- Medicare number/DVA number
- Government concession details
- Medical information including allergies, immunisations, medications, family/social history and medical history
Storage
The security of personal information at Collingwood Beach Medical Practice covers our patients as well as our employees. The security of your information is important to us and is stored by a password protected secured electronic format. We use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information.
Disclosure of information
When you register as a patient of our practice you will be asked to sign consent for our GPs and practice staff to access and use your personal information so they can provide you with the best healthcare. Only staff who need to see your personal information will have access to it.
Please note our practice does not participate in any Real-time audio/visual recording of consultations. If our policy on this ever changes we would always seek to obtain consent prior to the consultation.
Your personal information will not be disclosed to any other person, body or agency unless:
- You give us permission
- It is authorised or required by law
- It meets one of the other exceptions in the Australian Privacy Principles
From time to time it may be necessary to disclose your personal information to third parties. The circumstances surrounding why, who and when your information may be disclosed are outlined in our Privacy Policy. You may request a copy of this from our reception team.
All information shared electronically is encrypted and sent via secure messaging through Argus.
All information shared in referral letters are obtained from standardised templates within our clinical software Best Practice and is approved by the RACGP standards. Only relevant information for the treatment required is written in our referrals.
Cross-border disclosure of personal information
We may disclose your personal information to an overseas recipient, such as a foreign government or agency, where international information sharing arrangements are in place or the disclosure if required or authorized by law.
Your right to anonymity
Where lawful and practicable Collingwood Beach Medical Practice patients have the option of not identifying themselves. You do have the right to deal with us anonymously or under a pseudonym unless we are required by the law to only deal with identifiably individuals.
Access and correction
Patients may request access to their personal health information held by this practice. The practice encourages patients to ensure that information held is accurate and up to date and to amend any information that is inaccurate.
Children’s and young persons information
This practice acknowledges the rights of children and young people to privacy of their health information. Based on the professional judgement of the doctor and consistent with the law, it might be necessary at times to restrict access to personal health information by parents or guardians.
Privacy complaints
We take all complaints about Privacy seriously and offer options on how this can be dealt with:
- In writing and emailed to admin@beachmedical.com.au
- Request a meeting with the Practice Manager
- Discuss your issues with your GP
- Contact the Health Care Complaints Commission on 1800 043 159 or write to them at Locked Bag 18, Strawberry Hills NSW 2012
Policy review
This policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure it is in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles and our organisational policies. Next review date 16/04/2024.
Further information
For further information on how to access the health information we hold please speak to one of our reception team.
The Australian Privacy Principal Guidelines are published by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. The Guidelines are available at:
