Due to the Federal Privacy Act 1988, your written consent is required for us to collect your personal information. The following information will help you understand why we collect and how we safeguard your information. When we register you as a patient, you will be asked to sign a consent form. This form is included in our welcome package via email or letter so you can review it prior to your arrival.

Why do we collect and hold your personal information?

We require you to provide us with your personal details and a full medical history so that we may provide accurate assessment, diagnosis and treatment. We may need to collect information from previous doctors, hospital records, health care providers, pathology or medical imaging services for the primary purpose of providing quality health care.

This means that we may use the information you provide in the following ways:

• To accurately identify you
• To best assess your health care needs and provide safe medical treatment.
• Administration purposes in running our practice. For example, we may need to contact you using phone numbers provided.
• Billing purposes and debt collection, including compliance with Medicare and Health Insurance Commission requirements.
• Disclosure to others involved in your care, including allied health professionals, GP’s, treating doctors, specialists and hospital booking staff outside this practice. This may occur through referral to other doctors, surgery at hospitals, medical tests and in the reports or results returned to us following referral.
• Deidentified data may be used for teaching and process improvement purposes.
• You may be contacted in the future for long-term follow up from your procedure.

What personal information do we collect?

In order to provide a service for you, we will require:

• Name, date of birth, address, contact details (phone number, email are preferred)
• Medicare number and concession details (if you have one)
• Health fund detail (if you have one)
• Other health care provider who you normally see or under the care of (GP, Optometrist etc)
• Occupation (this can be used to consider your visual target)
• Contact details for next of kin (in case we can’t reach you)
• Medical information, including medical history, family history, social history and other risk factors

How is your data stored and protected?

All staff with access to patient medical records are required to maintain the strictest confidentiality at all times without exception. Upon employment, staff are required to sign the appropriate documentation, including their employment contract, confirming their understanding of their legal and ethical obligations in this matter.

Your data is stored in an electronic format securely within Australia. Hardcopy received is first scanned, loaded in your electronic patient record, then destroyed via ISO certified shredding contractor. Data is backed up frequently and on a regular basis.

How can I access my data and provide updated information?

Patients have the right to request access to their medical record or request amendments to their personal information should they believe it is inaccurate.

If you would like a copy of your record, please express this in writing. Once received, we aim to respond within 30 days.

What can I do if I have a privacy related complaint?

We take data and privacy very seriously, if you believe there has been a breach or you would like to express concern about how your data is handled please write to our Practice manager.  We will attempt to resolve it first.

If the response is unsatisfactory, you may contact The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).

Address: GPO Box 5218, Sydney, NSW 2001

Phone: 1300 363 992

Email:enquiries@oaic.gov.au