Narromine Shire Family Health Centre
 

PRIVACY POLICY

We take confidentially and the privacy of your personal information seriously at the Narromine Shire Family Health Centre, we abide by all Safety and Privacy Principles.

This pamphlet explains how personal information about you and your health is recorded and managed in our practice. We also have a written privacy policy describing how we manage personal information.

 

Personal information

The ‘personal information’ we collect includes your name, date of birth, address/es, contact details, Medicare number, healthcare identifiers and health fund details. Medical information may include medical history and any care you may need. GPs need information about your past and present health to provide you with high-quality care.

 

Our practice follows the guidelines of the RACGP’s Handbook for the management of health information in general practice, 5th edition (the Handbook). The Handbook incorporates federal and state privacy legislation, and the Australian Privacy Principles, which requires that your personal information is kept private and secure.

 

Please be aware that you are not obliged to provide any information requested, but failure to do so may compromise the quality of the health care and treatment given to you.

 

Your medical records

This practice takes steps to ensure that your medical records:

• are accurate, complete, well-organized and legible

• are up to date

• contain enough information to allow another GP to care for you

• contain a summary of your care

• can be used to remind you, with your permission, to return for follow up, check-ups and reviews.

 

If you are uncertain why information is being requested, please ask your GP or the practice staff.

 

If you wish to remain anonymous while accessing healthcare services, please talk to the practice staff.

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Providing your information to other GPs

In this practice, it is normal for all GPs to have access to your medical records. If you have any concerns about this, please discuss them with your GP or practice staff.

 

It is important that other people involved in your care, such as medical specialists and other healthcare professionals, are informed of the relevant parts of your medical history, so they can provide the best care for you. Your GP will let you know when this is necessary.

 

Providing your information to others

GPs respect your right to decide how your personal information is used or shared. For example, this may be sharing your health information with specialist doctors. Personal information that identifies you will only be sent to other people with your consent unless there are exceptional circumstances. Gaining your consent is the guiding principle used by this practice in using and sharing your information.

 

Our practice will not share your personal health information with anyone else or another organization unless:

• you have consented to this sharing, or

• they are legally obliged to disclose the information, in which case your GP will first discuss with you the information that she or he is legally obliged to disclose, or

• the information is necessary for you to obtain Medicare payments or other health insurance rebates, or

• there is an overriding public health and safety interest in the release of the information.

 

In the above cases, only information necessary to meet the requirements will be provided. Your health information will not ordinarily be sent overseas unless:

• you are informed and provide consent for this to occur, and

the overseas country receiving the information has privacy laws that are very similar to the Australian Privacy Principles.

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Using health information for quality improvement and research

This practice may use patient health information to assist in improving the quality of care we give to all our patients, by reviewing the treatments used in the practice.

 

Your information held by the practice may be used in research projects to improve healthcare in the community; however, this information will not include data that can identify you.

 

The information used for research, including the publication of research results, will not be in a form that would allow you to be identified, unless the research serves an important public interest. In such cases, identifiable medical records can be used for medical research without your consent under guidelines issued by the Australian Government. Before providing such identified information, your GP will discuss with you the information that she or he is obliged to disclose.

 

Security of information in the practice

Australian privacy legislation applies to all personal health information recorded in electronic and paper records. All records must be kept secure to protect against unauthorized access. This practice complies with these requirements to protect your information.

 

It is not a practice policy to use private emails, as it is not a secure type of communication.  Emails will only be used where no other means of communication is available and patients have consented and provided us with their contact email address prior.

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Access to your health information

All patients have the right to access their own personal health information in line with the APP. Please be aware that if you request access the practice is entitled to charge a fee to cover admin costs which are not covered under Medicare.

 

Sharing information is important for good communication between you and practice staff. Your GP can provide a full explanation of the health summary or medical record you are provided access to.

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Who owns the medical records?

Medical records belong to your general practitioner (GP) unless there are contractual arrangements made prior.

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How long will it take for my records to be released?

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) states that the practitioner has up to 30 days to action as record request.

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Does the practitioner have the right to deny a patient access to their medical records?

Yes, the practitioner has the right to deny access under exceptional circumstances such as a serious threat to life, health, or safety of an individual or to public health or public safety, unreasonable impact on the privacy of other individuals.

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How are medical records released?

If the records are being released to another practitioner they are released on a USB in a format only a medical software can open.

Please note: medical records will not be printed.

 

Direct marketing

This practice does not engage in direct marketing.

 

Resolving concerns regarding the privacy of your health information

If you have any concerns regarding the privacy of your personal health information or the accuracy of the information held by the practice, you should discuss these with practice staff. Inaccurate information can be corrected, or your concerns noted in your record. For legal reasons, the original notes will be retained.

 

Relevant requirements of following the legislation

My Health Record Act 2012 (Cth).

Healthcare Identifiers Act 2010 (Cth)

Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).