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 YOUR PRIVACY IS OUR BUSINESS
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The provision of excellence in health care is our principal concern. This requires a doctor/ patient relationship of trust and confidentiality. Your doctor regards patient health information as confidential and will only collect this information for the primary purpose of managing your health.
To collect information for any secondary purpose the doctor would require your consent.
H.D.A. Medical Group handles personal information in accordance with the Health Records Act commencing July 1, 2002. This Act entitles patients to know what personal information is held about them; why it is held; how to gain access, how it is used, when it can be disclosed and if consent is necessary, whom it may be disclosed to and how it is stored.
This page is designed to inform you of those organisations/individuals information may be disclosed to and how H.D.A. medical Group will endeavor to protect the privacy of your personal health information.
Collection, use and disclosure of your information
Information regarding a patient’s medical and family health history is required to provide accurate medical diagnosis and appropriate treatment. We will be fair in the manner we collect information about you. This information is generally collected from the patient orwith your consent. There are times when we may receive information from others about you, H.D.A. will, wherever possible, ensure the patient knows this. All treating practitioners involved in your medical care must have full knowledge of your health information. To ensure you receive quality care your health information may be shared with other health care professionals with your written consent. Some information may be provided to Insurance Companies, Employers, the Workcover Authority and Legal Representatives, with your written permission.
Doctors in this practice are members of various medical and professional bodies which may include medical defence organisations. There may be times when disclosure of patient information is required for medical defence purposes.
Doctors are legally bound to disclose personal information, in some situations. An example of this would be mandatory reporting of communicable diseases.
H.D.A. Medical Group is required, by law, to hold your information, at this practice for a mandatory period, following your last attendance.
Access
You have a right to access your information. You may gain access to your information in several ways, by viewing, by requesting a copy or summary or by consultation with the doctor. H.D.A. will not ask you why you want the information, we may ask what information you require.
There are some situations where access maybe denied but we will advise you of the reason why.
A fee will be payable where the practice incurs a cost in the provision of information depending on the type of access required. Doctors have material that is covered by copyright, which prevents it being copied without the doctor’s permission. You may request H.D.A. to amend health information, which is not accurate or complete. Upon request, with written consent, your health information held by this practice will be made available to another health service provider.
Parents/ guardians and children
Health information regarding children is also subject to the provisions of Health Records Act. Subject to the professional judgement of the doctor and consistent with the law, access by parents or guardians may at times be restricted.
Complaints
If you have any concerns, questions or complaints regarding the privacy of your health information, we encourage you to discuss this with your doctor.
If your issues are not resolved after speaking with your doctor, you are able to raise your concerns with;
The Health Services Commissioner
Level 30 / 570 Bourke Street
Melbourne Vic 3000
Tel: (03) 8601 5200
Website: http://www.health.vic.gov.au/hsc/
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PRIVACY
