Belmont Bulkbilling Clinic takes your privacy seriously. Privacy protection and confidentiality of health information is essential for quality health care and we are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of the information we handle about you.
In addition to our professional and ethical obligations, at a minimum, our Practice handles your personal information in accordance with federal and state privacy law. This includes complying with the federal Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) forming part of the Privacy Act 1998 (Cth) and the Victorian Health Privacy Principles (HPPs) forming part of the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic).
Our staff are trained in the handling of personal information in accordance with the Practice Privacy Policy.
More information about the APPs and HPPs can be found on the Australian Information Commissioner’s website www.oaic.gov.au or in hard copy on request from our Practice reception.
Ways in which Belmont Bulkbilling Clinic complies with the legislation, the APPs and the HPPs:
Identifiers
These are numbers or symbols that are used to identify patients with or without using a name e.g. Medicare or DVA numbers. The practice will limit the use of identifiers assigned by other agencies to those uses necessary to fulfil our obligations to those agencies e.g. Medicare claims.
Anonymity
A patient has the right to be dealt with anonymously, provided that this is lawful and practical. However, in the health context this is unlikely to be practical and may in some circumstances be dangerous to the person’s health. All requests of this nature will be referred to the Principal Doctor and Practice Manager. If you choose not to provide the Practice with the personal details requested, it may limit our ability to provide you with full service.
Cross border data flows
The individual’s privacy is protected by federal privacy legislation and State privacy legislation. If patient information is sent by the practice outside of Victoria we will take all steps to protect patient privacy.
Sensitive information
Health information is sensitive information for the purposes of the privacy legislation. This means that generally patients’ consent will be sought to collect the information that is needed to make an
accurate medical diagnosis, prescribe appropriate treatment and to be proactive in patient health care.
Collection
It is necessary for us to collect personal information from patients and sometimes others associated with their health care in order to attend to their health needs and for associated administrative purposes.
In an emergency, we may collect information from immediate family, friends or carers.
Use and Disclosure
A patient’s personal health information is used or disclosed for purposes directly related to their health care and in ways that are consistent with a patient’s expectations. In the interests of the highest quality and continuity of health care this may include sharing information with other health care providers who comprise a patient’s health care team from time to time.
In addition, there are circumstances when information has to be disclosed without patient consent, such as:
Emergency situations
Where required by law, for example, pursuant to a subpoena or mandatory
reporting of communicable diseases
To fulfil a medical indemnity insurance obligation
Provision of information to Medicare or for billing and rebate purposes.
There are some necessary purposes of collection for which information will be used beyond providing health care, such as professional accreditation, quality assessments, clinical auditing, billing, service monitoring activities, improving the administration of the practice and disclosure to a clinical supervisor.
In general, a patient’s health information will not be used for any other purposes without their consent.
Data Quality
We aim to ensure the information we hold about you is accurate, complete, up to date and relevant. To this end our staff may ask you to confirm that your personal details are correct when you attend a consultation. Please let us know if any of the information we hold about you is incorrect or not up to date.
Data Security & Storage
The storage, use, and where necessary, transfer of personal health information will be undertaken in a secure manner that protects patient privacy.
All access to electronic systems and databases required user specific log ins and passwords, preventing unauthorised access.
It is necessary for the practice to keep patient information after a patient’s last attendance for as long as is required by law (seven years or until a minor turns 25 years) or is prudent having regard to administrative requirements.
Access to your personal information
Under law you have a right to access personal information we hold about you. Please contact our Practice Manager for more information on our Access to Medical Records Policy.
We ask that you put your request in writing. A fee for the retrieval and copying of your medical record will apply, charged in accordance with the schedule of fees specified in the Health Records Regulations 2008 (Vic), plus GST. This fee is not redeemable through Medicare.
This practice acknowledges the right of children and young people to privacy of their health information. Based on the professional judgement of the doctor and consistent with the law, it might be necessary at times to restrict access to personal health information by parents or guardians.
In some circumstances access may be restricted or denied. The reason for this will be explained.
Amendment of personal information
The practice encourages patients to ensure that information held is accurate and up to date and to amend any information that is inaccurate. If you consider the information we hold about you is not correct, please contact the Practice in writing. You have the right to have any incorrect information corrected.
Privacy Concerns:
The best way to deal effectively with concerns and complaints is to communicate openly and respectfully.
If you have a complaint regarding the way your personal information has been handled by Belmont Bulkbilling Clinic, please put it in writing and address it to our Manager, Angie Mawson. We will acknowledge receipt of your complaint within 14 days, and endeavor to provide a full response within 30 days of receipt.
Should you be dissatisfied with our response, you may lodge your written complaint with the Victorian Privacy Commissioner at https://www.privacy.vic.gov.au and/or the Victorian Health Services Commissioner:
Health Services Commissioner
Level 30, 570 Bourke Street,
Melbourne 3000
Tel: 03 8601 5200
If you have a query regarding our Practice’s privacy policy, please contact our practice manager, Kirsty Priebbenow, who will be happy to discuss the matter with you.