Confidentiality and Medical Records

Why do we collect, use, hold and share your personal information? 

Our practice will need to collect your personal information to provide health care 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 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

How do we collect your personal information? 

Our 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. 

During the course of providing medical services, we may collect further personal information and record this information in your personal health record that we maintain electronically in our patient health record management system. 

Telephone and electronic communications

Our practice is mindful that even if patients have provided electronic contact details, they may not be proficient in communicating via electronic means and patient consent needs to be obtained before engaging in electronic communication. Electronic communication includes email, facsimile and Short Message Service (SMS). Communication with patients via electronic means is conducted with appropriate regard to privacy.
Please discuss with staff if you are concerned about receiving electronic communications.