P R I V A C Y P O L I C Y.

GOOLWA PHYSIO PRIVACY POLICY

Goolwa Physio Privacy Policy Current as of 21/04/2022

Introduction

 This privacy policy is to provide information to you, our client, 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. This Practice complies with the Australian Government Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles set out therein and attached as Annexure 1 for reference. 

Why and when your consent is necessary?

When you register as a client of our practice, you provide consent for our Physiotherapists 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: 

•  names, date of birth, addresses, contact details 

•  medical information including medical history, medications, allergies, adverse events, 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. 

How do we collect your personal information? 

Our practice may collect your personal information in several different ways. 

1. When you make your first appointment our practice staff will collect your personal and demographic information via your Goolwa Physio New Patient Form / New Patient Agreement

2. During the course of providing healthcare services, we may collect further personal information. 

3.We may also collect your personal information when you send us an email or SMS, telephone us or make an online appointment. 

4.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 your General Practitioner, specialists, other allied health professionals, hospitals, community health services and pathology and diagnostic imaging services 

• your health fund, Medicare, or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (as necessary). 

When, why and with whom do we share your personal information? 

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 the Australian Privacy Principles 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 client’s life, health or safety or public health or safety, or it is impractical to obtain the client’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 healthcare services, e.g. through My Health Record.

Only people who need to access your information will be able to do so. Other than in the course of providing healthcare 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. This may include paper records, electronic records and visual records (for example X-ray reports, photos and correspondence from other treating healthcare providers). Our practice stores all personal information securely. Electronic records are stored on password protected encrypted software and are securely backed up. Any hard copy records are stored in secure treatment rooms. All Goolwa Physio staff are bound by confidentiality agreements which prohibit unauthorised disclosure of personal client information. 

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 clients may request access to their medical records. We require you to put this request in writing, which can be mailed to the practice director/s, provided to reception in person or emailed to admin@fleurieuphysiotherapy.com.au . We aim to respond to all requests within 30 days. There is no fee for requesting access to your personal information, however we may charge an administration fee for processing your request. You will be advised of any fees prior to your request being processed. You can also contact the practice for more information regarding fees. 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 the practice director/s, or by email at admin@fleurieuphysiotherapy.com.au

We take complaints and concerns regarding privacy seriously. You should express any privacy concerns you may have in writing, which can be mailed to the practice director/s or emailed to admin@fleurieuphysiotherapy.com.au. We will then attempt to resolve it in a timely manner (30 days) in accordance with our resolution procedure. 

Policy review statement   

This privacy policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it is in accordance with any changes that may occur. Any changes will be made available at reception. If we consider changes to be material all clients will be notified in writing, by mail or email.