This Policy explains how we at Respiratory Physio2 handle your personal information, including how we collect, use and disclose your personal information.
As a health service provider, Respiratory Physio2 is committed to complying with the Australian Privacy Principles (‘APPs’) in the Privacy Act 1988, and to being open and transparent about our information handling practices. We respect the confidentiality of your sensitive health information and take steps to safeguard that information.
Personal Information Collected & Why We Keep It
We collect personal information in order to provide health care services to our patients. In particular, so that we can make thorough clinical assessments of our patients, we may collect and hold the following information.
- Clients name and contact details.
- Information and medical history
- Social History
We also need to collect the following information for administrative purposes and to arrange payment of accounts:
- credit card and/or banking details
- Medicare card numbers, for GPCCMP payments
- Health fund membership details
How we collect personal information
When it is necessary to do so, we aim to collect personal information directly from the individual it relates to. However, there may be circumstances where we need to collect personal information from a third party (such as another health care provider). Also, we may collect personal information indirectly because it is collected in a communication with us. Some examples of how we collect personal information include (but are not limited to):
- Directly from patients during telephone calls or consultations
- On our Patient Registration Forms.
- Communications from a patient’s referring doctor or specialist.
- Reports from radiology service provided/accessed upon patient authorisation.
Storage and security of personal information
We take the security of your personal information seriously. All Respiratory Physio2 Staff handle personal information sensitively and in accordance with the APPs.
We use specific practice management software to store our electronic information, and this software system employs encryption of the data.
We take all reasonable steps to protect the personal information we hold from misuse, interference and loss; and from unauthorised access modification or disclosure. These steps include using electronic and physical security measures, including password protected software and hardware.
Our preference is to store personal information electronically. If we no longer need the personal information we hold physical copies of, we take reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify that information.
How We Use Personal Information
We will use your personal information in order to provide you with medical treatment and health care. This may mean sharing your information, in a confidential manner, with other health service providers who form part of your treating team. For example, if you are referred for further diagnostic testing, such as radiology, we may need to consult with your GP or specialist providers about your treatment and/or diagnosis.
We may also communicate with your referring doctor or nominated GP to inform them of the outcome of your consultation. If you have been referred under a GPCCMP, a letter will be sent to your referring provider after your first visit and again at the completion of your treatment plan to share your progress and outcomes. If you do not wish for this information to be shared, please let us know.
In order to administer any claims, we may also need to liaise with Medicare and/or your nominated private health fund regarding details of your treatment and your relevant account details.
Where necessary, we may also use your personal information to comply with applicable laws, including any mandatory public health or safety reporting obligations under relevant legislation.
We will only use your personal information in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) and will maintain strict patient confidentiality at all times.
Cookies
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How to make a privacy complaint
If you have any concerns about how we have handled your personal information please do not hesitate to contact us, so that we can try and resolve the issue with you quickly and directly.
If we are unable to resolve your privacy complaint, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at:
GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW, 2001
www.oaic.gov.au
1300 363 992.
Contact Details
To request access to the personal information we hold about you, or to make a privacy complaint, contact us on 8364 3706 or via email at respiratory_physio2@bigpond.com