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:
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.
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.
When why and with whom do we share your personal information?
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.
Our practice may use your personal information to improve the quality of the services we offer to our patients through research and analysis of our patient data.
We may provide de-identified data to other organisations to improve population health outcomes. The information is secure, patients cannot be identified, and the information is stored within Australia. You can let our reception staff know if you do not want your information included.
How do we store and protect your personal information?
Your personal information may be stored at our practice in various forms, most of which is electronic records, but may include paper records, and photos if appropriate in your clinical records.
Our practice stores all personal information securely in an electronic format, in protected information systems. We use passwords, secure cabinets, and confidentiality agreements for staff and contractors.
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 via letter or email, and our practice will respond within a reasonable time which may be up to 30 days from date request is received. There will be a minimum administrative fee of $50 for release of these records, but this may vary based on the amount of information and size of files requested.
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 the practice manager via email at [email protected] or in person at the clinic.
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. Kindly send all complaints in writing, including details of the complaint in writing to the practice manager via email at [email protected] or via mail addressed to the Practice Manager, Family Health Clinic Gatton, 25-27 Railway Street, Gatton, Qld 4343. We will try to respond within 30 days from date of receipt.
If you do not receive a response or still have concerns make an appointment to discuss in person with the Practice Manager or the Practice Principal and should the outcome, not be to your satisfaction then you may contact the OAIC. 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.
Privacy and our website
Our Clinic has a Facebook page and uses Google reviews, we request that you do not share any personal health information via these social media platforms.
We also use online forms via a third-party service provider – “Hotdocs Online”. HotDocs confirms that any personal information provided is secure and that your information is never to any third party at any time.
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.
- When you make your first appointment our practice staff will collect your personal and demographic information via your registration.
- During the course of providing medical services, we may collect further personal information.
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.
- 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 (e.g. 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).
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.
Our practice may use your personal information to improve the quality of the services we offer to our patients through research and analysis of our patient data.
We may provide de-identified data to other organisations to improve population health outcomes. The information is secure, patients cannot be identified, and the information is stored within Australia. You can let our reception staff know if you do not want your information included.
How do we store and protect your personal information?
Your personal information may be stored at our practice in various forms, most of which is electronic records, but may include paper records, and photos if appropriate in your clinical records.
Our practice stores all personal information securely in an electronic format, in protected information systems. We use passwords, secure cabinets, and confidentiality agreements for staff and contractors.
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 via letter or email, and our practice will respond within a reasonable time which may be up to 30 days from date request is received. There will be a minimum administrative fee of $50 for release of these records, but this may vary based on the amount of information and size of files requested.
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 the practice manager via email at [email protected] or in person at the clinic.
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. Kindly send all complaints in writing, including details of the complaint in writing to the practice manager via email at [email protected] or via mail addressed to the Practice Manager, Family Health Clinic Gatton, 25-27 Railway Street, Gatton, Qld 4343. We will try to respond within 30 days from date of receipt.
If you do not receive a response or still have concerns make an appointment to discuss in person with the Practice Manager or the Practice Principal and should the outcome, not be to your satisfaction then you may contact the OAIC. 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.
Privacy and our website
Our Clinic has a Facebook page and uses Google reviews, we request that you do not share any personal health information via these social media platforms.
We also use online forms via a third-party service provider – “Hotdocs Online”. HotDocs confirms that any personal information provided is secure and that your information is never to any third party at any time.
Website use terms and conditions:
1. Introduction
The Terms of Use of the Family Health Clinic Gatton website include these Terms and Conditions, the Privacy Policy and any other terms and conditions that appear in or are linked to the Family Health Clinic Gatton website (Additional Terms and Conditions).
The Additional Terms and Conditions that appear on the Family Health Clinic Gatton website will govern your use of, and access to, certain sections of the Family Health Clinic Gatton Web Site where they appear. Since these Additional Terms and Conditions form part of the Terms of Use, you are bound by them and should review them wherever they are relevant to you when using the Family Health Clinic Gatton website.
2. Website content and access
While Family Health Clinic Gatton endeavours to take reasonable care in preparing and maintaining the information on this website we do not warrant the accuracy, reliability, adequacy, or completeness of any of the website content. You acknowledge and accept that the website content may include technical inaccuracies and typographical errors. The website content is subject to change at any time without notice and may not necessarily be up to date or accurate at the time you view it.
It is your responsibility to inquire with us directly to ensure the accuracy and currency of the material or information you seek to rely upon. To the extent permitted by law, including the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Family Health Clinic Gatton disclaims all liability for loss directly or indirectly arising from your use of or reliance on the website and the website content.
Family Health Clinic Gatton does not guarantee that access to the Family Health Clinic Gatton website will be uninterrupted or that the website is free from viruses or anything else which may damage any computer which accesses the Family Health Clinic Gatton website or any data on such a computer.
3. Limitation of liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law Family Health Clinic Gatton excludes all liability for any loss or damage of any kind (including special, indirect or consequential loss and including loss of business profits) arising out of or in connection with the website content and the use or performance of the Family Health Clinic Gatton website except to the extent that the loss or damage is directly caused by Family Health Clinic Gatton fraud or willful misconduct.
Where the law (including without limitation the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)) implies a warranty or guarantee into these Website Terms and Conditions which may not lawfully be excluded, then provided it is fair and reasonable to do so, Family Health Clinic Gatton 's liability for breach of such a warranty or guarantee shall be limited at its option, to any one or more of the following:
(a) in the case of services, to either resupplying the services or payment of the cost of having the services supplied again.
4. Intellectual property
The materials displayed on this website, including without limitation all editorial materials, information, photographs, illustrations, artwork and other graphic materials, and names, logos and trade marks, are the property of Lockyer Medical Pty Ltd and are protected by copyright, trade mark and other intellectual property laws. Any such content may be displayed and printed solely for your personal, non-commercial use within your organisation provided that any copyright notice on such a display or page is not removed. You agree not to reproduce, re-transmit, distribute, disseminate, sell, publish, broadcast or circulate any such material to any third party without the express prior written consent of Lockyer Medical Pty Ltd.
Save for the above, and unless expressly granted, Lockyer Medical Pty Ltd does not grant any licence or right in, or assign all or part of, its intellectual property rights in the content or applications incorporated into the Family Health Clinic Gatton website or in the user interface of the Family Health Clinic Gatton website.
5. Interference with website
You must not attempt to change, add to, remove, deface, hack or otherwise interfere with this website or any material or content displayed on the Family Health Clinic Gatton website.
6. Third party websites
The Family Health Clinic Gatton Website may contain links to other websites operated, controlled or produced by third parties. Unless otherwise indicated, Family Health Clinic Gatton does not control, endorse, sponsor or approve any such third party websites or their content nor does Family Health Clinic Gatton provide any warranty or take any responsibility whatsoever for any aspect of those websites or their content.
7. Submissions
Any material you send to us on or via the Family Health Clinic Gatton website will be deemed to be non-confidential and non-proprietary unless it is indicated to be otherwise. This includes any data, questions, comments, suggestions, ideas or other information. We will be entitled to use any such material which has not been indicated to be confidential or proprietary for any purpose without compensation to you
The Terms of Use of the Family Health Clinic Gatton website include these Terms and Conditions, the Privacy Policy and any other terms and conditions that appear in or are linked to the Family Health Clinic Gatton website (Additional Terms and Conditions).
The Additional Terms and Conditions that appear on the Family Health Clinic Gatton website will govern your use of, and access to, certain sections of the Family Health Clinic Gatton Web Site where they appear. Since these Additional Terms and Conditions form part of the Terms of Use, you are bound by them and should review them wherever they are relevant to you when using the Family Health Clinic Gatton website.
2. Website content and access
While Family Health Clinic Gatton endeavours to take reasonable care in preparing and maintaining the information on this website we do not warrant the accuracy, reliability, adequacy, or completeness of any of the website content. You acknowledge and accept that the website content may include technical inaccuracies and typographical errors. The website content is subject to change at any time without notice and may not necessarily be up to date or accurate at the time you view it.
It is your responsibility to inquire with us directly to ensure the accuracy and currency of the material or information you seek to rely upon. To the extent permitted by law, including the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Family Health Clinic Gatton disclaims all liability for loss directly or indirectly arising from your use of or reliance on the website and the website content.
Family Health Clinic Gatton does not guarantee that access to the Family Health Clinic Gatton website will be uninterrupted or that the website is free from viruses or anything else which may damage any computer which accesses the Family Health Clinic Gatton website or any data on such a computer.
3. Limitation of liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law Family Health Clinic Gatton excludes all liability for any loss or damage of any kind (including special, indirect or consequential loss and including loss of business profits) arising out of or in connection with the website content and the use or performance of the Family Health Clinic Gatton website except to the extent that the loss or damage is directly caused by Family Health Clinic Gatton fraud or willful misconduct.
Where the law (including without limitation the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)) implies a warranty or guarantee into these Website Terms and Conditions which may not lawfully be excluded, then provided it is fair and reasonable to do so, Family Health Clinic Gatton 's liability for breach of such a warranty or guarantee shall be limited at its option, to any one or more of the following:
(a) in the case of services, to either resupplying the services or payment of the cost of having the services supplied again.
4. Intellectual property
The materials displayed on this website, including without limitation all editorial materials, information, photographs, illustrations, artwork and other graphic materials, and names, logos and trade marks, are the property of Lockyer Medical Pty Ltd and are protected by copyright, trade mark and other intellectual property laws. Any such content may be displayed and printed solely for your personal, non-commercial use within your organisation provided that any copyright notice on such a display or page is not removed. You agree not to reproduce, re-transmit, distribute, disseminate, sell, publish, broadcast or circulate any such material to any third party without the express prior written consent of Lockyer Medical Pty Ltd.
Save for the above, and unless expressly granted, Lockyer Medical Pty Ltd does not grant any licence or right in, or assign all or part of, its intellectual property rights in the content or applications incorporated into the Family Health Clinic Gatton website or in the user interface of the Family Health Clinic Gatton website.
5. Interference with website
You must not attempt to change, add to, remove, deface, hack or otherwise interfere with this website or any material or content displayed on the Family Health Clinic Gatton website.
6. Third party websites
The Family Health Clinic Gatton Website may contain links to other websites operated, controlled or produced by third parties. Unless otherwise indicated, Family Health Clinic Gatton does not control, endorse, sponsor or approve any such third party websites or their content nor does Family Health Clinic Gatton provide any warranty or take any responsibility whatsoever for any aspect of those websites or their content.
7. Submissions
Any material you send to us on or via the Family Health Clinic Gatton website will be deemed to be non-confidential and non-proprietary unless it is indicated to be otherwise. This includes any data, questions, comments, suggestions, ideas or other information. We will be entitled to use any such material which has not been indicated to be confidential or proprietary for any purpose without compensation to you
