Banksia Medical Centre Privacy Policy

Introduction 

This privacy policy is to provide information to you, our patient, 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.  

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 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, immunisations,  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 registration.  
2. During the course of providing medical services, we may collect further personal information.  

Information can also be collected through electronic transfer of prescriptions (eTP), My Health Record, eg  via Shared Health Summary, Event Summary.  

3. We 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. 
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 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 APPs 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 patient’s life, health or safety or public  health or safety, or it is impractical to obtain the patient’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 medical services, through eTP, My Health Record (eg via Shared Health  Summary, Event Summary). 
• Medical records may be accessed by visiting Medical educators and /or general practice supervisors from  another practice for the purpose of registrar training. 

Only people who need to access your information will be able to do so. 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. 

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 such as electronic records, visual  records such as Xrays, scans and photos. 

Our practice stores all personal information securely in electronic format in a secure environment such as the  use of passwords to access medical records. All staff and contractors are legally obliged to maintain  confidentially under confidentiality agreements. 

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 along with photographic proof of identity, and our practice will respond within a reasonable  time of 30 days or less.

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 your General Practioner. 

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 seriously. You should express any privacy concerns you  may have in writing. We will then attempt to resolve it in accordance with our resolution procedure. 

Banksia Medical Centre, 132 Bellarine Highway Newcomb Vic 3219. 

03 5248 1299. 

Our practice will respond within a reasonable time frame of 30 Days or less. 

You may also contact the OAIC(Office of Australian Information Commissioner). Generally, the OAIC will  require you to give them time to respond before they will investigate. For further information visit www.oaic.gov.au or call the OAIC on 1300 363 992.  

Health Complaints commissioner  
Address: 26,570 Bourke Street Melbourne 3000 
Phone: 1300 582 113 between 9am-5pm Monday to Friday  
Website: www.hcc.vic.gov.au 

Privacy and our website  

Our practice is committed to making information about our practice and its services readily accessible  for all patients and the community via our practice website. No patient data is collected via this website. 

Policy review statement 

This privacy policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure it is in accordance with any changes that may occur.  This will be updated to the Patient notice board for viewing.