The WOMEN Centre adheres to the National Privacy Principles as outlined by the Privacy Commissioner, 21 December 2001. This means that we collect and maintain your personal information in a secure and confidential manner. Further information regarding collection of and access to your information is shown below.
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 in other ways 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 for billing purposes.
The surgeons in this practice are members of various medical and professional bodies including medical defence organisations. 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 of 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.
Disclosure of Your Personal Information
Your surgeon and/or his staff may disclose some of your personal information to:
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Partners, parents or guardians when discussing such things as appointment times, investigations and theatre bookings;
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Other patients who may overhear administrative details discussed with you at the reception desks.
If you do not wish such disclosure to occur, please inform us.
Parents/guardians and children
The right of children to privacy of their health information, based on the professional judgement of the doctor and consistent with the law, might at times restrict access to this information by parents or guardians.
Complaints
It is important to us that your expectations about the way in which we handle your information are the same as ours.
Please do not hesitate to discuss any concerns, questions or complaints about any issues related to the privacy of your personal information with your doctor. You may also contact our friendly practice staff with your concerns.
