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 your:
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. How do we collect your personal information? Our practice may collect your personal information in several different ways.
Information can also be collected through electronic transfer of prescriptions (eTP), My Health Record, eg via Shared Health Summary, Event Summary. We may also collect your personal information when you visit our website, send us an email or SMS, telephone us, make an online appointment or communicate with us using social media.
When, why and with whom do we share your personal information? We sometimes share your personal information:
Only people who 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. Eg as paper records, electronic records, visual records (X-rays, CT scans, videos and photos. Our practice stores all personal information securely. Eg. electronic format, in protected information systems or in hard copy format in a secured environment. Our use of passwords, secure cabinets, confidentiality agreements for staff and contractors all reinforce our commitment to your absolute privacy. 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 acknowledging your consent to allow us to disclose your information and our practice will respond within a reasonable time, within 30 days. A fee may be charged to you depending on the size of the file and the time that our team will require to take to compile it. 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 that your personal information held by our practice is correct and current. You may also request that we correct or update your information, and you should make such requests in writing to reception@hanwoodsurgery.com. 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. All enquiries can be sent to amy.dissegna@hanwoodsurgery.com, PO Box 1700, Griffith, NSW, 2680, by contacting us on 02 6963 0214 or in person at 3 Hanwood Road Hanwood, NSW 2680. All enquiries or complaints will be treated with the upmost respect and we endevour to amend any complaints within 30 days maximum. 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 363 992. Privacy and our website Our online booking available through Health Engine and HotDoc will absorb anonymous information. All information is depersonalized and helps our practice to aquire information to ensure we are providing the best healthcare services to you we can. Policy review statement
Disclaimer The Privacy policy template for general practices is intended for use as a guide of a general nature only and may or may not be relevant to particular practices or circumstances. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has used its best endeavours to ensure the template is adapted for general practice to address current and anticipated future privacy requirements. Persons adopting or implementing its procedures or recommendations should exercise their own independent skill or judgement, or seek appropriate professional advice. While the template is directed to general practice, it does not ensure compliance with any privacy laws, and cannot of itself guarantee discharge of the duty of care owed to patients. Accordingly, the RACGP disclaims all liability (including negligence) to any users of the information contained in this template for any loss or damage (consequential or otherwise), cost or expense incurred or arising by reason of reliance on the template in any manner.
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