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 at Geographe Bay General 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?

Geographe Bay General 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 PERSONAL INFORMATION

Geographe Bay General 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.

-       While providing medical services, we may collect further personal information.  Information may be collected through electronic transfer of prescriptions (eTP), Shared Health Summary and Event Summary via My Heath Record

-       We may also collect your personal information when you 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 (eg 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)

-       while providing medical services, through eTP, My Health Record (eg via Shared Health Summary, Event Summary).

Only people who need to access your information will be able to do so. Other than in the course of providing medical services or as otherwise described in this policy, our practice will not share personal information with any third party without your consent.

We will not share your personal information with anyone outside Australia (unless under exceptional circumstances that are permitted by law) without your consent.

Geographe Bay General 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.

Geographe Bay General 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.  This may include paper records and electronic records

Geographe Bay General Practice stores all personal information securely, in an electronic format that is protected by individual passwords and paper copies in a secured storeroom.

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.

Geographe Bay General Practice acknowledges patients may request access to their medical records. We require you to put this request in writing on the Surgery's 'Personal Information Request Form' and Geographe Bay General Practice will respond within a reasonable time, preferably within 30 days of receiving the request.    

Geographe Bay General Practice will take reasonable steps to correct your personal information where the information is not accurate or up to date. Patients will be asked to verify that the personal information held by Geographe Bay General 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 Geographe Bay General Practice, 82 Bussell Highway, West Busselton or via email to reception@geographebaygp.com.au                 

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. Complaints can be lodged mail to Geographe Bay General Practice, 82 Bussell Highway, West Busselton, telephoning (08) 9752 4688 or emailed to the Practice Manager via email admin@geographebaygp.com.au.  Geographe Bay General Practice will respond with a reasonable time, preferably within 30 days of received the complaint.

You may also 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, you may also contact Ahpra on 1300 419 495 or Western Australia Ombudsman (08) 9220 7555 or email mail@ombudsman.wa.gov.au.

Policy review statement

The privacy policy with be reviewed regularly to ensure it is in accordance with any changes that may occur.  Patients will be notified via Geographe Bay General Practice website and a sign in the waiting room.