Privacy Policy
Effective 21st December 2001 the Privacy Commissioner requires that all
health care facilities implement new procedures to protect the privacy,
confidentiality and the rights of our patients.
This facility has always implemented procedures to protect the privacy
of our patients. We do not release any information regarding our
patients without their written consent.
This privacy policy explains what kind of information we collect from
our patients, what we do with the information and how patients may
access the information in their medical record.
Please read this information and the Consent to Use Personal
Information Form given to you carefully. If you do not understand any
of this information, please discuss it with our staff. Do not sign the
form unless you have had all of your questions addressed to your
satisfaction.
We may hold the following
information about our patients
- Name
- Address
- Telephone Numbers
- Date of Birth
- Email
- Address
- Occupation
- Health Fund Membership
- Medicare and other identification numbers provided by the
patient
- Details of family, next of kin and emergency contact details
- Medical History
- Details of any physical examination of the patient
- Details of previous treatments and operations
- Relevant family medical history
- Details of allergies, sensitivities and adverse reactions
to drugs
- Other Health Information
- Details of investigations and results
- Details of previous operations
- General Practitioner’s name
- Referring Doctor’s name
- The names of other doctors past or present involved in your
care
- Religious beliefs or affiliations
- Returned Service Organisations
- Accounting Transaction details associated with our services
- Additional information provided to us by the patient
- Information provided through patient questionnaires and
surveys
What we do with the
personal information of our patients
- Provide medical treatment and care
- Assist other medical, nursing and allied health professions
in providing care and treatment
- Assist us with any calls from our patients
- For our internal administrative requirements
- Process private Health Fund Claims
- Provide information to other medical, nursing and allied
health professionals who provide necessary follow up treatment and
ongoing care
- Benchmarking and Clinical Indicator programs to enable us
to assess our level of service when compared to other hospitals in a
de-identified format
- To provide data in both identified and de-identified form
to State and Commonwealth Departments and Agencies in compliance with
legislation
- To Third Party Bodies bound by us in agreement to the
Privacy Principles. These bodies audit our facility for compliance to
Australian Standards, Codes and Legislation for the purposes of
accreditation
- Specialist Sub-Contractors and Consultants bound by the
Privacy Principles who assist us in the management of our facility
Storage of your personal
information
The personal information about patients is contained in both paper
based documents stored and protected within the facility and in
electronic records on our computer system that are maintained in a
secure environment.
These records are only accessible by those persons employed by us who
require restricted access to the personal information for the purpose
of carrying out their employment.
All personnel sign Privacy and Confidentiality Agreements binding them
to comply with the Privacy Principles outlined in the Privacy Act.
Access to our records
Patients may request access to personal information by writing to the
Privacy Officer and or Medical Director. Patients do not have to
provide a reason for requesting access. Where we hold information that
patients are entitled to access, we will endeavour to provide a
suitable range of choices as to how you may access it.
If any patient believes that personal information held by us in
incorrect, incomplete or inaccurate, then they may request amendment of
it. We will then consider if the information requires amendment. If we
do not agree that there are grounds for amendment, then we will make a
note to the personal information stating that the patient disagrees
with the record.
Patients having any questions regarding privacy issues are encouraged
to contact our Perfect Vision Laser Correction office.