Privacy Policy

Introduction

This privacy policy is to provide information to on how Beecroft General Practice Pty Ltd, ACN 169 461 947, as trustee for The Beecroft Unit Trust (Beecroft General Practice) and the independent doctors we support collect, use and disclose personal information (which includes your health information).

Why and when your consent is necessary

When you register as a patient of an independent doctor who consults from Beecroft General Practice, you provide consent for your doctor and Beecroft General Practice to access, use and disclose your personal information to support the provision of healthcare to you by your doctor. Only staff members of Beecroft General Practice and any independent doctors who consult from Beecroft General Practice who need to see your personal information will have access to it. If Beecroft General Practice or an independent doctor who consults from Beecroft General Practice needs to use your personal information for anything else, Beecroft General Practice or the independent doctor will seek additional consent from you.

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

Beecroft General Practice and the independent doctors we support will need to collect your personal information to support the provision of healthcare services to you. The main purpose for collecting, using, holding and sharing your personal information is to support your independent doctor to provide you with healthcare. Beecroft General Practice and the independent doctors we support may also use your personal information for directly related business activities, such as financial claims and payments, practice audits and accreditation, and business processes (eg staff training).

What personal information do we collect?

The information Beecroft General Practice and the independent doctors we support may 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 (when applicable).

Dealing with us anonymously

You have the right to deal with Beecroft General Practice and your independent doctor anonymously or under a pseudonym unless it is impracticable for Beecroft General Practice or your independent doctor to do so, or unless Beecroft General Practice or your independent doctor is required or authorised by law to only deal with identified individuals.

How do we collect your personal information?

Beecroft General Practice and the independent doctors we support may collect your personal information in several different ways.

1. When you make your first appointment with an independent doctor we support, Beecroft General Practice staff will collect your personal and demographic information via your registration.
2. During the course of providing medical services, your independent doctor may collect further personal information from you, which may be disclosed to Beecroft General Practice staff as needed to support your independent doctor to provide healthcare to you. This may be through electronic transfer of prescriptions (eTP), My Health Record, eg via Shared Health Summary, Event Summary.
3. Beecroft General Practice and the independent doctors we support may also collect your personal information when you send an email, telephone the practice or make an online appointment.
4. 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?

Beecroft General Practice and the independent doctors we support will share information in order to support the provision of healthcare to you by your independent doctor. Beecroft General Practice and the independent doctors we support sometimes share your personal information:

• with third parties who work with Beecroft General Practice or the independent doctors we support 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 (eg 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 a claim
• for the purpose of confidential dispute resolution process
• when there is a statutory requirement to share certain personal information (eg some diseases require mandatory notification)
• during the course of providing medical services through eTP, My Health Record (eg via Shared Health Summary, Event Summary).

Only people who need to access your information will be able to do so. Other than in connection with the provision of medical services to you by your doctor, or as otherwise described in this policy, Beecroft General Practice and the independent doctors we support will not share personal information with any third party without your consent.

Beecroft General Practice and the independent doctors we support will not share your personal information with anyone outside Australia (unless under exceptional circumstances that are permitted by law) without your consent.

Beecroft General Practice and the independent doctors we support will not use your personal information for marketing any of our goods or services directly to you without your express consent. If you do consent, you may opt out of direct marketing at any time by notifying us or your doctor in writing.

How do we store and protect your personal information?

Your personal information may be stored in various forms, and Beecroft General Practice and the independent doctors we support ensures all personal information is stored securely. This may include electronic records or visual records (X-rays, CT scans, videos and photos). All hard copy visuals such as X-Rays, CT Scan, CD’s and photos are kept in a secure locked room accessible only by Beecroft General Practice staff and the independent doctors we support.

All access to electronic records is on a tiered basis ensuring the appropriate level of access for the role performed. Confidentiality agreements are signed by each staff member of Beecroft General Practice, all data is password protected with passwords changed on a regular basis. Beecroft General Practice’s server is stored in a locked room accessible only by Beecroft General Practice staff and the independent doctors we support. To ensure that electronic records are kept safe from damage, loss or theft, complete backups are performed on a regular basis and the backup discs are stored securely off-site.

Beecroft General Practice’s IT Department protects all electronic records and systems against unauthorised access, unauthorised amendment of records, this includes current antivirus screening and firewalls.

How can you access and correct your personal information at our practice?

You have the right to request access to, and correction of, your personal information.

Beecroft General Practice and the independent doctors we support acknowledge that patients may request access to their medical records. Beecroft General Practice and the independent doctors we support require you to put this request in writing and we will respond within a reasonable time (within 30 days). Depending on the complexity of your request, there may be a small payment involved, please contact our Practice Manager or your doctor for more information.

Beecroft General Practice and the independent doctors we support will take reasonable steps to correct your personal information where the information is not accurate or up to date. From time to time, Beecroft General Practice or your doctor will ask you to verify that your personal information held by Beecroft General Practice and the independent doctors we support is correct and current. You may also request that Beecroft General Practice and or your doctor corrects or updates your information, and you should make such requests in writing to the Practice Manager at reception@beecroftgp.com.au or to your doctor.

How can you lodge a privacy-related complaint, and how will the complaint be handled at our practice?

Beecroft General Practice and the independent doctors we support take complaints and concerns regarding privacy seriously. You should express any privacy concerns you may have in writing to the Practice Manager, Beecroft General Practice, Shop 8A, 6-8 Hannah Street, Beecroft NSW 2119, (02) 9484 1552 or directly with your doctor. Beecroft General Practice and your doctor will then attempt to resolve it within 30 days.

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 on 1300 363 992. Alternatively you could contact the Information and Privacy Commission on 1800 472 679.

Policy review statement

This Privacy Policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure that it meets any legislative changes and relevant Privacy Laws. Updates to this Policy will be available from reception and on Beecroft General Practice’s website.