PRIVACY POLICY

Managing Patient Health Information

1. POLICY

The management of OJ Skin Cancer Clinic & General Practice are committed to protecting the privacy of our patients within our practice. Information collected is kept strictly confidential and used only for the medical and health care of patients.

2. PURPOSE

To ensure patients who receive care from the practice are comfortable in entrusting their health information to the practice. This policy provides information to patients as to how their personal information is collected and used within practice and the circumstances in which we may disclose it to third parties.

3. SCOPE

This policy applies to all employees and patients at iHealth Albury.

4. PRACTICE PROCEDURE

The Practice will:

• Provide a copy of this policy upon request.
• Take such steps as are reasonable in the circumstances to implement practices, procedures, and systems to ensure compliance with the AHPRA Guidelines and deal with inquiries or complaints.
• Collect personal information for the primary purpose of managing a patient’s healthcare and for financial claims and payments.

Staff Responsibility

• What information has been and is being collected
• Why the information is being collected and whether this is due to a legal requirement
• How the information will be used or disclosed
• Why and when their consent is necessary
• The Practice’s procedures for access and correction of information, and responding to complaints of information breaches

Patient Consent

The practice will only interpret and apply a patient’s consent for the primary purpose for which it was provided. The Practice staff must seek additional consent from the patient if the personal information collected may be used for any other purpose.

5. COLLECTION, USE AND DISCLOSURE

OJ Skin Cancer Clinic & General Practice recognises that the information we collect is often of a highly sensitive nature...

Collected personal information will include patient’s:

• Names, addresses and contact details
• Medicare number for identification and claiming purposes
• Healthcare identifiers
• Medical history, medications, allergies, immunisations, family history etc.

Forms of information:

• Paper records
• Electronic records
• Visuals: x-rays, CT scans, photos
• Audio recordings

Personal information may be used or disclosed in instances such as:

• Medical defense
• Mandatory reporting
• Locating a missing person
• Referral to other healthcare providers
• Confidential dispute resolution
• Accreditation or IT services

6. DATA QUALITY

Patient information will be complete, accurate, and up to date at the time of collection. Doctors should review past medical history every 3 years.

7. DATA SECURITY

All due care will be taken to ensure protection of patient privacy during the transfer, storage and use of personal health information...

8. ACCESS TO PATIENT INFORMATION AND CORRECTION

Individuals have the right to request access to their personal information. Requests must be made in writing...

9. PARENTS/GUARDIANS AND CHILDREN

Access to a child’s medical information may be restricted to protect the child’s privacy...

10. COMPLAINTS

Patients should express privacy concerns in writing. Complaints not resolved satisfactorily may be directed to:

The Federal Privacy Commissioner
Level 8 Piccadilly Tower
133 Castlereagh Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Privacy Hotline: 1300 363 992

11. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

• National Privacy Principles
• Freedom of Information Act 2001

12. REVIEW DATE

Reviewed: November 2024
Next review: November 2025
Approved by: Dr Omi Jindal