Our Privacy Policy

Introduction
Our aim is to ensure that you, our patient, feels comfortable entrusting your Health Information to us. This privacy policy provides information on how your personal information (which includes your health information) is collected and used within our practice, and the circumstances in which we may disclose it to third parties. It demonstrates how we fulfill our obligation to manage personal information in a regulated, open and transparent manner.

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 that needs to see your personal information will have access to it. If the personal information is to be used for any other purpose 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.

How do we store and protect your personal information?
Your personal information may be stored at our practice in various forms: Paper Records, Electronic records, X-rays & CT scans, videos & photos. Our practice stores all personal information securely.
Information in electronic format is stored in protected information systems with the use of passwords, screen savers and back ups. Information in hard copy format is stored in a secured environment and is inaccessible to public or other patients. Our building is secure and has a monitored alarm system. All staff and contractors have to sign a Confidentiality Agreement.

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 will collect your personal information:

1. When you present to the practice for the first time our practice staff will collect your personal and demographic information via registration. We encourage you to pay attention to the “Collection Statement” attached to/within the Registration Form and information about the management of collected information and patient privacy.
2. During the course of providing medical services, your health care practitioner will collect further personal information.
3. We may also collect your personal information when you send us an email or SMS or telephone us.
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 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?
In order to provide you with the best possible health care, we 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
• during the course of providing medical services and through the My Health Record/PCEHR system (eg via Shared Health Summaries and Event Summaries).
• when using an Electronic Transfer of Prescription service – eTP.

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 and full disclosure of purpose to you.

Exceptions to disclose information without your consent are when the information is:

• required or authorised by law (eg court subpoenas).
• 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 your consent
• to assist in locating a missing person
• when there is a statutory requirement to share certain personal information (eg: some diseases require mandatory notification)
• to establish, exercise or defend an equitable claim
• for the purpose of confidential dispute resolution process

We will not share your personal information with anyone outside Australia without your consent (unless under exceptional circumstances that are permitted by law).

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 and our practice will respond within 14 days. A request for access form will be provided to you by the reception staff.

Our practice takes reasonable steps to correct your personal information when we believe they are not correct 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 up-to-date. We will request this verification by asking you to fill in our “Patient Information Update Form”. You may also request that we correct or update your information by submitting a request in writing.

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 of your personal information very seriously. If you have any questions about this policy, concerns about the treatment of your privacy or a possible breach of your privacy, please contact our Privacy Officer as detailed below. In accordance with our resolution procedure you will be contacted within 14 days to discuss your concerns and endeavor to resolve the matter to your satisfaction.

Privacy Officer, South Terrace Medical Practice
Post : PO Box 222, Kapunda, SA 5373
Email: contact@stmpkapunda.com.au
Tel : (08) 85662104

You may also contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (www.oaic.gov.au or tel: 1300 363 992) or the Australian Health Practitioner Registry (tel: 1300 419 495) with your complaint.

Policy review statement
This Privacy Policy is reviewed and updated regularly to ensure it incorporates and reflects any changes within the practice and state and national legislation. The policy is available at our rooms and we will announce any changes to this policy by updating this page on our website. Our reception staff will also notify you when you call or attend the practice.