Privacy Policy
Introduction
Why and when is your consent necessary?
Why do we collect, use, hold and share your personal information?
What personal information do we collect?
- 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.
The Privacy Act, however, also provides patients with the option of not identifying themselves or of using a pseudonym when dealing with our Clinic. (APP 2) unless it is impracticable for you to do so.
Further information on this can be obtained from the clinic manager and is contained in our new patient registration form and on our website.
How do we collect your personal information?
- When you make your first appointment, our practice staff will collect your personal and demographic information via your registration. Our practice has a collection statement attached to/within the patient registration form.
- While providing medical services, Budja may collect further personal information.
Budja Budja may also collect your personal information when you visit our website, email or SMS, telephone us, make an online appointment or communicate with us using social media (when the latter is activated).
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?
Budja sometimes shares your personal information in the following situations:
- 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 (e.g. 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 a confidential dispute resolution process
- when there is a statutory requirement to share certain personal information (e.g. some diseases require mandatory notification)
- during providing medical services through eTP and My Health Record (e.g., via Shared Health Summary, Event Summary).
- Only people who need to access your information can do so. Other than providing medical services or as 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 permitted by law) without your consent.
Budja will NOT use your personal information to market our goods or services directly to you without your express consent. If you consent, you may opt out of direct marketing by notifying our practice in writing.
How do we store and protect your personal information?
Your personal information is stored electronically at our practice.
Our practice stores all personal information securely, with access levels available depending on the healthcare service you provide and all password-protected. All staff, contractors and others supplied with access must sign a legally binding confidentiality agreement. All data is regularly and securely backed up on iCloud.
How can you access and correct your personal information at our practice?
Our practice will take reasonable steps to correct your personal information where the information is not accurate or current. Occasionally, we will ask you to verify that the personal information you provide in our 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 medical.reception@budjabudjacoop.org.au
How can you lodge a privacy-related complaint, and how will the complaint be handled at our practice?
Contact Details
Melissa Perry, Chief Operations Officer
PO Box 66 Halls Gap VIC or 54 Girdlestone St Ararat 3377
You can expect a response within 30 days of the practice receiving your 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 at 1300 363 992.
You may also contact the Health Complaints Commissioner, Victoria, on 1300 582 113 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday or https://hcc.vic.gov.au/contact.
Privacy and our website and social media
Budja does not currently use any website analytics cookies or social media.
Policy review statement
Complete copies of this privacy policy can be obtained from our Clinic Manager.