Privacy
PRIVACY AND MEDICAL RECORDS
We value the doctor-patient relationship. Patient privacy is vital to such a relationship. The Privacy Act 1988 and its 2001 amendments formalise the already existing and acknowledged privacy obligations of our practice.
Our doctors and staff collect information from patients primarily to provide proper care and treatment. We have a legal and ethical duty to protect patient information.
Patient information may be stored on paper-based records and on computer. Such information is only accessible to authorised doctors and staff of this practice. The paper-based records are stored in areas within the practice that are only accessed by practice staff. Electronic records are protected by data security systems which include firewalls, password protection, encryption and multiple backup systems.
Patient records will be retained for as long as the patient continues to attend the practice. if a patient ceases to attend the practice records will be retained for 7 years or until age 25 is reached.
Within the practice patient information provided to any member of staff is automatically available to all doctors and staff, however such information will only be accessed for the purpose of providing patient care and treatment. On occasions patient information may have to be disclosed to other doctors, nurses, therapists and medical technicians so that proper health care is not compromised.
The doctors in this practice occasionally take part in clinical audits that assist them to improve the quality of care provided to their patients. Some patient information may be used for this and similar quality assurance and professional development activities, however no information which might identify any patient is used outside the practice.
Occasionally research institutions request access to our patients. On such occasions we may send out invitations to our patients on behalf of researchers but we do not pass patient details to researchers without specifically obtaining consent.
Occasionally the practice receives requests for information from other parties such as insurance companies. This practice will disclose personal health information to third parties if we are provided with a signed consent document. (Such consents are generally included in an insurance application.)
If a patient wishes their patient information to be forwarded to another practice we require a signed consent from the patient or legal guardian.
The doctors in this practice are members of various medical and professional bodies including medical defence organisations. These organisations provide valuable services to their members. They require their members to provide information in relation to their medical practice, which may include patient information.
Patients who wish to look at their information held by this practice or who have other queries about privacy of information are welcome to discuss these matters with their treating doctors.