The objective of this privacy notice is to provide you, the patient, with clear information on how your personal information is collected and used within my practice. Occasionally I also need to share your personal information to involve others in your healthcare and this policy outlines when, how, and why I share your information.
Who can you contact about this policy?
For enquiries concerning this policy, you can contact the managers of Brighton Family & Women’s Clinic, Linda or Kate.
When and why is your consent necessary?
When you register as a patient, you provide consent for the GPs and practice staff to access and use your personal information to facilitate the delivery of healthcare. Access to your personal information is restricted to GP’s and practice team members who require it for your care. If we ever use your personal information for purposes other than healthcare provision, we will obtain additional consent from you.
It is important to us that as my patient, you understand why we collect and use your personal information.
Why do I collect, use, store, and share your personal information?
My practice collects, uses, stores, and shares your personal information primarily to manage your health safely and effectively. This includes providing healthcare services, managing medical records, and ensuring accurate billing and payments. Additionally, I may utilise your information for internal quality and safety improvement processes such as practice audits, accreditation purposes, and staff training to maintain high-quality service standards.
What personal information is collected?
- Names, date of birth, addresses, contact details
- Medical information including medical history, medicines, allergies, and adverse reactions, immunisations, social history, family history and risk factors
- Medicare number where available for identification and claiming purposes
- Healthcare identifier numbers
- Health fund details
Can you deal with me anonymously?
You can deal with me anonymously or under a pseudonym unless it is impracticable for me to do so or unless I am required or authorised by law to only deal with identified individuals.
How is personal information collected?
My practice will need to collect your personal information to provide healthcare services to you. The main purpose of collecting, using, holding, and sharing your personal information is to manage your health. I also use it for directly related business activities, such as financial claims and payments, practice audits and accreditation, and business processes such as staff training.
When you make your first appointment, the service entity team will collect your personal and demographic information via your registration. During the course of providing medical services, I may collect further personal information. Information can also be collected through electronic transfer of prescriptions, My Health Record, such as via Shared Health Summary and Event Summary. I do participate in these eHealth services.
I use document automation technologies so that only relevant information is included in referral letters.
I 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.
In some circumstances, personal information may also be collected from your guardian or responsible person, other involved healthcare providers such as specialists, allied health professionals, hospitals, community health services, pathology and diagnostic imaging services, and from your health fund, Medicare, or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs if relevant.
While providing medical services, further personal information may be collected via electronic prescribing, My Health Record and online appointments.
Images and recordings
Various types of images may be collected and used, including CCTV footage collected from the service entity for security and safety purposes, and photos and medical images taken for medical purposes following the relevant clinic guidance.
I will always comply with privacy obligations when collecting personal information from third-party sources. This includes ensuring transparency with patients, obtaining necessary consents, maintaining data accuracy, securing the information, and using it only for specified purposes.
When, why and with whom do I share your personal information?
I sometimes share your personal information with third parties for business purposes such as accreditation agencies or information technology providers, with other healthcare providers including in referral letters, when it is required or authorised by law such as court subpoenas, when it is necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to a patient’s life, health or safety or public health or safety, to assist in locating a missing person, to establish, exercise or defend an equitable claim, for the purpose of confidential dispute resolution processes, when there is a statutory requirement to share certain personal information, and when providing medical services through electronic prescribing or My Health Record.
Only people who need to access your personal information will be able to do so. Other than providing medical services or as otherwise described in this policy, my practice will not share personal information with any third party without your consent.
I do not share your personal information with anyone outside Australia unless under exceptional circumstances permitted by law and with your consent.
Will your information be used for marketing purposes?
My practice will not use your personal information for marketing any goods or services directly to you without your expressed consent. If you do consent, you may opt out of direct marketing at any time by notifying the practice in writing.
How is your information used to improve services?
My practice may use your personal information to improve the quality of the services offered to patients through research, analysis of patient data for quality improvement and for training activities with the practice team.
I may provide de-identified data to other organisations to improve population health outcomes. The information is secure, patients cannot be identified, and the information is stored within Australia. You can let the service entities reception staff know if you do not want your information included.
How are document automation technologies used?
Document automation is where systems use existing data to generate electronic documents relating to medical conditions and healthcare.
My practice uses document automation technologies to create documents such as referrals, which are sent to other healthcare providers. These documents contain only your relevant medical information.
These document automation technologies are used through secure medical software Zedmed.
All users of the medical software have their own unique user credentials and password and can only access information that is relevant to their role in the practice team.
My practice complies with the Australian privacy legislation and APPs to protect your information.
All data, both electronic and paper are stored and managed in accordance with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Privacy and managing health information guidance.
How is your personal information stored and protected?
Your personal information may be stored in various forms. The practice stores all personal information securely.
How can you access and correct your personal information at the practice?
You have the right to request access to, and correction of, your personal information.
My practice acknowledges patients may request access to their medical records.
My practice policy is for the patient to sign a Transfer of Records form available on the service entities website or at reception. Once received, your record will be forwarded within 28 days.
My practice will respond to any requests to access or correct your personal information within 7 business days.
My practice will take reasonable steps to correct your personal information where the information is not accurate or up to date. Sometimes, I will ask you to verify your personal information held by my practice is correct and current. You may request I correct or update your information. To do this please contact reception via phone on 9516 5100 or email admin@brightonfwc.com.au.
How can you lodge a privacy-related complaint, and how will the complaint be handled at my practice?
I take complaints and concerns regarding privacy seriously. You should express any privacy concerns you may have. I will then attempt to resolve it in accordance with the resolution procedure.
If you do not feel I have resolved your issue, you may also contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner will require you to give them time to respond before they investigate. For further information visit www.oaic.gov.au or call the OAIC on 1300 363 992.
How is privacy on the website maintained?
Any personal information you share with us through website, email, and social media is handled securely and confidentially. This practice uses analytics and cookies.
Policy review statement
My privacy policy is regularly reviewed to ensure compliance with current obligations.
If any changes are made, they will be reflected on the website. Significant changes may be communicated directly to patients via email or other means. Please check the policy periodically for updates. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the service entity.
