Introduction
Heart of Canberra Pty Ltd is continually committed to protecting the privacy information and handling of your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988, The Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act 2012, The Australian Privacy Principles and State and Territory Privacy Legislation.
The Privacy Policy explains how Heart of Canberra Pty Ltd collects, uses, imparts and stores your personal information, how you may access this information and how you may seek the correction of any information. The policy also contains information on how to make a formal complaint about a breach of the privacy legislation.
At times the information contained herein may be changed to reflect changes to the policy, procedures and systems, regarding how Heart of Canberra Pty Ltd handles your personal information. We will update the Privacy Policy to reflect the changes. The changes will be available on our website heartofcanberra.com.au and in the practice.
This Privacy Policy is current as at 22 June 2019.
Collection of information
Heart of Canberra Pty Ltd collects information required to provide your medical requirements and treatment. This information may include your name, address, date of birth, contact details, gender, health information and family history. This information is stored on our computer medical practice software, Genie.
Wherever feasible, Heart of Canberra Pty Ltd will only collect information from you personally. At times we may need to collect your personal information from other medical parties such as treating specialists, radiologists, pathologists, hospitals and any other relevant health care providers and my health record system.
The information collected may be obtained over the phone, in writing, in person, over the internet if you choose to email relevant information. This information may be collected by medical and non-medical staff.
In case of an emergency, Heart of Canberra Pty Ltd may need to contact your relatives or family.
Social Networking system
We do not use social networking services like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter to communicate with public and our patients.
Patient can send their concerns and questions in writing or by contacting us here
Use and Disclosure of information
Heart of Canberra is committed to treating your personal information as strictly private and confidential. Your information will only be used and disclosed for purposes directly related to your care and treatment, or in ways that you would reasonably expect that Heart of Canberra would use the information for your ongoing care and treatment.
Circumstances may arise where we may be permitted or required by law to disclose your personal information to third parties. These may include Medicare, Police, Insurers, Solicitors, Tribunals, Courts of Law, Hospitals.
From time to time third parties may ask Heart of Canberra Pty Ltd to provide statistical data for the purpose of research which will not involve disclosure of your personnel details.
Data Quality and Security
Heart of Canberra Pty Ltd will take reasonable steps to ensure that your personal information is accurate, complete, up to date and relevant. The staff may ask you to confirm your details when you attend the practice for consultation. We request that you let the staff know if your information we have on file is incorrect or out of date.
Personal information that we hold on site is protected by:
• Securing the premises with two doors. The main door to the building has swipe card access and the office has a physical lock. The office is continuously video monitored and any break in’s will be alarmed to the phone of the owner.
• Locking the room containing physical records held on site
• Our patient records are stored in a secure on-site computer system that is being protected by individual password, most up to date anti-virus fire wall system and is accessible only to authorized personnel. Physical records like files will be retained for at least 7 years after the last encounter in case of adults and children, until they have attained the age of 25. Paper based information that is no longer required is destroyed by shredding. All shredded information is disposed of in a secure manner through services that specialise in disposing sensitive information. All the doctors and staff working at the medical practice will have access to information.
Corrections
If you feel that the information that Heart of Canberra Pty Ltd has about you is not accurate, complete or up to date, we ask that you tell the staff, write a letter or contact us here to update your information.
Access to your information
You are entitled to request access to your medical information/records. We ask that you put your request in writing. The staff will need to liaise with the doctors about the release of requested information.
There may be a fee of administrative costs of retrieving and providing copies of your medical file.
Heart of Canberra Pty Ltd may deny you access to your medical information/records in certain circumstances permitted by law, an example of these are disclosure may cause a serious threat to your health and safety.
You will be informed in a reasonable time why you have been denied access.
Complaints
If you have a complaint about the privacy of your personal information, we request that you contact the practice manager in writing. Upon receipt of your complaint Heart of Canberra directors will consider the details and attempt to resolve it in accordance with our complaints handling procedure.
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your complaint or the outcome you may make an application to the Australian Information Commissioner or the Privacy Commissioner.
Transferring your personal information/file overseas
Heart of Canberra Pty Ltd will not transfer your personal information/medical file overseas and insurance companies etc unless we have your consent, or we are required by law to do so.
Contact
Please direct any queries, complaints, requests for access to medical records to
Administration Staff
Contact telephone number: +61 2 6162 2741
Fax Number: +61 2 6162 2742 or
