PART A – PURPOSE AND CONTEXT

1.0 Northside Gynaecology is committed to ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of all personal information affiliated with our practice’s undertakings.

1.1 Northside Gynaecology follows the terms and conditions of privacy and confidentiality in accordance to the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) as per schedule 1 of the Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act 2012 (Cth), forming part of the Privacy Act 1988 (‘the Act’).

1.2 The purpose of this Privacy Policy is to clearly communicate how Northside Gynaecology collects and manages personal information.

1.3 The point of contact regarding any queries regarding this policy is the Practice Manager. You can contact our Practice Manager 07 3054 4687 or you can email the practice on admin@northsidegynaecology.com.au

PART B – AUSTRALIAN PRIVACY PRINCIPLES

2.0 As a private sector health service provider and under permitted health situations, Northside Gynaecology is required to comply with the APPs as prescribed under the Act.
2.1 The APPs regulate how Northside Gynaecology may collect, use, disclose and store personal information and how individuals, including Northside Gynaecology’s patients may:

• address breaches of the APPs by Northside Gynaecology;
• access their own personal information; and,
• correct their own personal information.

2.2 In order to provide patients with adequate health care services, Northside Gynaecology will need to collect and use personal information. It is important to be aware that if the patient provides incomplete or inaccurate information or the patient withholds personal health information Northside Gynaecology may not be able to provide the patient with the services they are requesting.
2.3 In this Privacy Policy, common terms and definitions include:

• “personal information” as defined by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). Meaning
  “information or an opinion including information or an opinion forming part of a database, whether true or not, and whether recorded in a material format or not, about an individual whose identity is apparent, or can reasonably be ascertained, from the information or opinion”; and,
• “health information” as defined by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). This is a particular subset of “personal information” and means:

(a) Information or opinion about the health or disability (at any time i.e. past, present or future) of an individual that can be classified as personal information;
(b) Information or opinion about an individual’s expressed wishes about the future provision of health services that can be classified as personal information;

(c) Information or opinion about health service provided, or to be provided, to an individual, that can be classified as personal information;
(d) Other personal information collected to provide, or in providing, a health service;
(e) Other personal information about an individual collected in connection with the donation, or intended donation, by the individual of his or her body parts, organs or body substances; or
(f) Genetic information about an individual in a form that is, or could be, predictive of the health of the individual or a genetic relative of the individual.
2.3.1 Personal information also includes ‘sensitive information’ which is information including, but not limited to a patient’s:

• race;
• religion;
• political opinions;
• sexual preferences; and or,
• health information.

2.3.2 Information deemed ‘sensitive information’ attracts a higher privacy standard under the Act and is subject to additional mechanisms for the patient’s protection.

PART C – TYPES OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

3.0 Northside Gynaecology collects information from each individual patient that is necessary to provide the patient with adequate health care services and treatment options.
3.1 This may include collecting information about a patient’s health history, family history, ethnic background or current lifestyle to assist the doctors in diagnosing and treating a patient’s condition.

PART D – COLLECTION & RETENTION

4.0 This information will in most circumstances be collected directly from the patient through but not limited to the following mediums:
(g) Patient Registration form;
(h) Other medical treatment forms or questionnaires; and or,
(i) face to face consultation.

4.1 In other instances, Northside Gynaecology may need to collect personal information about a patient from a third party source. This may include:

• relatives; or,
• other treating health service providers.

4.2 This will only be conducted if the patient has provided consent for Northside Gynaecology to collect his/her information from a third party source; or, where it is not reasonable or practical for Northside Gynaecology to collect this information directly from the patient. This may include where:

• the patient’s health is potentially at risk and his/her personal information is needed to provide them with emergency medical treatment.

4.3 Northside Gynaecology endeavours to store and retain a patient’s personal & health information in electronic format

PART E – PURPOSE OF COLLECTION, USE & DISCLOSURE

5.0 Northside Gynaecology only uses a patient’s personal information for the purpose(s) they have provided the information for unless one of the following applies:

• the patient has consented for Northside Gynaecology to use his/her information for an alternative or additional purpose;
• the disclosure of the patient’s information by Northside Gynaecology is reasonably necessary for the enforcement of criminal law or a law imposing a penalty or sanction, or for the protection of public revenue;
• the disclosure of the patient’s information by Northside Gynaecology will prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to somebody’s life or health; or,
• Northside Gynaecology is required or authorised by law to disclose the patient’s information for another purpose.

i. Health Professionals to provide treatment
During the patient’s treatment at Northside Gynaecology he/she may be referred to alternative medical treatment/services (i.e. pathology or radiology) where Northside Gynaecology’s staff may consult with senior medical experts when determining a patient’s diagnosis or treatment.

Northside Gynaecology’s staff may also refer the patient to other health service providers for further treatment during and following the patient’s admission. These services include, but are not limited to:

• Physiotherapy; or,
• Outpatient or community health services
• Public hospital referral
• Other specialists

These health professionals will be designated health service providers appointed to use the patient’s health information as part of the process of providing treatment. Please note that this process will be conducted whilst maintaining the confidentiality and privacy of the patient’s personal information.

ii. Alternative Health services
At any point a patient wishes to be treated by an alternative medical practitioner or health care service that requires access to his/her personal/health information Northside Gynaecology requires written authorisation. This written authorisation is to state that the patient will be utilising alternative health services and that these health services have consented for a transfer of personal/health information.

iii. Other Third Parties
Northside Gynaecology may provide the patient’s personal information regarding a patient’s treatment or condition to additional third parties. These third parties may include:

• parent(s);
• child/ren;
• other relatives;
• guardians; or,
• a person exercising a patient’s power of attorney under an enduring power of attorney.

Where information is relevant or reasonable to be provided to third parties, written consent from the patient is required.

Additionally, the patient may at any time wish to disclose that no third parties as stated are to access or be informed about his/her personal information or circumstances.

iv. Other Uses of Personal Information
In order to provide the best possible environment to treat patients, Northside Gynaecology may also use personal/health information where necessary for:

• activities such as quality assurance processes, accreditation, audits, risk and claims management, patient satisfaction surveys and staff education and training;
• invoicing, billing and account management;
• to liaise with a patient’s health fund, Medicare or the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, as necessary; and,
• the purpose of complying with any applicable laws – i.e. in response to a subpoena or compulsory reporting to State or Federal authorities.

v. Other Uses of Personal Information – Website specific
For each visitor to reach the site, we expressively collect the following non-personally identifiable information, including but not limited to browser type, version and language, operating system, pages viewed while browsing the Site, page access times and referring website address. This collected information is used solely internally for the purpose of gauging visitor traffic, trends and delivering personalized content to you while you are at this Site.
5.1 If at any point or for any of the aforementioned reasons Northside Gynaecology uses or discloses personal/ health information in accordance with the APPs, Northside Gynaecology will provide written notice for the patient’s consent for the use and/or disclosure.

PART F – ACCESS AND CHANGES TO PERSONAL INFORMATION

6.0 If an individual patient reasonably requests access to their personal information for the purposes of changing the information he/she must engage with the relevant practice manager.
6.1 The point of contact for patient access to personal information is:

The Practice Manager
Ph. 07 3054 4687
admin@northsidegynaecology.com.au
Monday – Friday
Once an individual patient requests access to his/her personal information Northside Gynaecology will respond within a reasonable period of time to provide the information.

6.2 All personal information will be updated in accordance to any changes to a patient’s personal circumstances brought to Northside Gynaecology’s attention. All changes to personal information will be subject to patient’s consent and acknowledgement.

6.3 If an individual requests access to his/her personal information Northside Gynaecology will charge $20.00. Please note that this fee is associated with administrative costs only.

PART G – COMPLAINTS HANDLING

7.0 How an individual patient may complain about a breach of the Australian Privacy Principles, or a registered APP code (if any) that binds the entity, and how the entity will deal with such a complaint.

PART H – PERSONAL INFORMATION AND OVERSEAS RECIPIENTS

8.0 Use of Overseas Parties:
(a) Northside Gynaecology does not engage with any overseas entities, with which personal or health information would be transferred, appointed or disclosed.
The aforementioned entities engaged overseas are subject to the legislative requirements as stipulated by the APPs.

PART I – DISPOSAL OF PERSONAL/HEALTH INFORMATION

9.0 If Northside Gynaecology receives any unsolicited personal information that is not deemed appropriate for the permitted health situation, Northside Gynaecology will reasonably de-identify and dispose of the information accordingly.
9.1 If Northside Gynaecology holds any personal or health information that is no longer deemed relevant or appropriate for the permitted health situation, Northside Gynaecology will reasonably de-identify and dispose of the information accordingly.

PART J – ACCESS TO POLICY

10.0 Northside Gynaecology provides free copies of this Privacy Policy for patients and staff to access, which can be viewed on our website – www.northsidegynaecology.com.au. A hard copy can be requested and provided to in person.

PART K – REVIEW OF POLICY

11.1 Northside Gynaecology in accordance with any legislative change will review the terms and conditions of this policy to ensure all content is both accurate and up to date.
11.2 Notification of any additional review(s) or alteration(s) to this policy will be provided to patients and staff within 30 days of notice. If change occurs patients and staff are required by Northside Gynaecology to review/sign/acknowledge in writing etc. this Privacy policy.