Privacy Policy
Stace Anaesthetists recognise the importance of protecting personal information which is collected from individuals who become associated with our business as a health service provider. We take our obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles seriously, and will take all reasonable steps to comply and protect the privacy of personal information held in our Practice.
Collection and Use of Your Personal Information
Stace Anaesthetists require the collection of personal information from individuals to enable the provision of health services and for related administrative purposes.
Information we collect on you may include, but is not limited to the following:
- Your name and address
- Your date of birth
- Medicare and Health insurance details
- Email address
- Health summary information including your health history, family history or current lifestyle
- Any records of diagnostic tests, records of treatments and medications as deemed necessary
Information collected by Stace Anaesthetists may be used for the following reasons:
- For use by a multidisciplinary treating team
- Assessment for provision of health care services
- To liaise with other health professionals, Medicare and your health fund
- In an emergency where your life is at risk and you cannot consent
- To maintain accurate medical records
- For other purposes required or premitted by law
- Billing or debt recovery ensuring discretion and maintaining confidentiality
- Disclosure to a medical expert (for medico-legal opinion), an insurer, a medical defence organisation, or a lawyer, solely for the purpose of addressing lability indemnity arrangements (such as reporting an adverse incident), or for the defence of anticipated or existing legal proceedings
Where possible, Stace Anaesthetists will collect information directly from patients or their authorised representative (e.g. parent, next of kin), however in most instances we will be provided personal information from the referring surgeons' practice. In this instance we will endeavour to verify such details with the person concerned.
Stace Anaesthetists acknowledges that there is no obligation for an individual to provide personal information. However if an individual chooses not to provide their personal details, it may not be possible to provide that individual with a full range of services.
Use and Disclosure of Your Personal Information
Stace Anaesthetists will not use any personal information collected for any other purposes without the express permission of the invidual unless required or authorised by law, or if it is for a directly related secondary purpose which is closely associated with the primary purpose.
We will never sell information about individuals to anyone else, or disclose information overseas.
Storage and Retention of Your Personal Information
All personal information collected by Stace Anaesthetists willbe retained as part of a database which will be securely monitored and maintained by Stace Anaesthetists external IT Provider.
Stace Anaesthetists will take all reasonable steps to protect the security of the personal information that it holds. This includes appropriate measures to protect electronic materials and materials generated and stored in hard copy.
Stace Anaesthetists will undertake to ensure that information held in and/or transferred in an electronic form is done as securely as possible. Information held on computers will be password protected, written records will be stored in locked filing cabinets or locked storage. Offshore data centres are not utilised by Stace Anaesthetists.
Where information held by Stace Anaesthetists is no longer required to be held, and the retention is not required by law, then Stace Anaesthetists will destroy such personal information by secure means. All written information will be destroyed by shredding or confidential destruction. Information on electronic data bases will be removed from such data bases before it leaves our control.
Access and Correction
Patients of Stace Anaesthetists may request access to information held about them, or for corrections to be made to their health records. Information will be provided upon verification of the request. A reasonable fee may be payable for supplying information.
We can refuse access to personal information under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) or other relevant law.
Anonymity and Pseudonymity
Where lawful and practicable you have the option of using health services without identifying yourself or using a pseudonym. However, there are potential consequences for not identifying yourself, such as not being able to claim a Medicare of health fund rebate.
Complaints
Individuals who have any concerns regarding the privacy of personal information should be referred to the Practice Manager. We would prefer any complaint be made in writing and we will endeavour to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
If our response is unsatisfactory you may refer your complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-complaints