19th Avenue Family Practice Privacy Policy
Introduction
This privacy policy is to provide information to you, our patient, on how your personal information
(which includes your health information) is collected and used within our practice, and the
circumstances in which we may share it with third parties.
Why and when your consent is necessary
When you register as a patient of our practice, you provide consent for our GPs and practice staff to
access and use your personal information so they can provide you with the best possible healthcare.
Only staff who need to see your personal information will have access to it. If we need to use your
information for anything else, we will seek additional consent from you to do this.
Why do we collect, use, hold and share your personal information?
Our practice will need to collect your personal information to provide healthcare 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 accreditation, and business processes (e.g. staff training).
What personal information do we collect?
The information we will collect about you includes your:
Personal Details: names, date of birth, addresses, contact details including email address
Medical information including: medical history, medications, allergies, adverse events,
immunisations, social history, family history and risk factors
Healthcare identifiers: Medicare number (where available), DVA number, for identification and
claiming purposes. Health fund details.
Dealing with us anonymously
You have the right to deal with us anonymously or under a pseudonym unless it is impracticable for
us to do so or unless we are required or authorised by law to only deal with identified individuals.
How do we collect your personal information?
Our practice may collect your personal information in several different ways.
1. When you make your first appointment our practice staff will collect your personal and
demographic information via your registration.
2. During the course of providing medical services, we may collect further personal information.
My Health Record, eg via Shared Health Summary, Event Summary.
3. We may also collect your personal information when you visit our website, send us an email or
SMS, telephone us, 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.
19th Avenue Family Prac
ce Privacy Policy as at 7th December 2022
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?
We sometimes share your personal information:
● with third parties who work with our practice 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 an equitable 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 the course of providing medical services or as otherwise described in this policy, our
practice will not share personal information with any third party without your consent.
We will not share your personal information with anyone outside Australia (unless under exceptional
circumstances that are permitted by law) without your consent.
Our practice 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 our practice in writing.
How do we store and protect your personal information?
Your personal information may be stored at our practice in various forms.
Electronic Medical Record
Printed referrals, prescriptions and requests (for collection)
Visual records – X-rays
Our practice stores all personal information securely.
All staff sign a confidentiality agreement as a part of the employment contract.
Electronic medical records are backed up regularly/weekly
Paper Based records are stored in a secured staff only accessed environment
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.
Our practice acknowledges patients may request access to their medical records. We require you to
put this request in writing to Dr Tim Hardy Principal GP and our practice will respond within a
reasonable time approx 30 days.
19th Avenue Family Prac
ce Privacy Policy as at 7th December 2022
A fee for transfer of records pertains to the following requests:
Authority to release Health Information / Health Summary (basic request) Nil fee
Entire release of Medical Records for Clinical purposes $45 + GST
Electronic XML file and for printing of an entire record $110 + GST
Our practice will take reasonable steps to correct your personal information where the information is
not accurate or up to date. From time to time, we will ask you to verify that your personal information
held by our practice is correct and current.
You may also request that we correct or update your information, and you should make such
requests in writing to Ms Libby Power, Practice Manager admin@famprac19.com
Access to your health information (explanatory notes)
You may ask practice staff about any aspect of your healthcare, including information contained in
your record. You can request access to your medical record and any other information the practice
records about you.
If you request access to your medical record, your GP will need to consider if there may be a risk of
physical or mental harm to you or any other person that may result from disclosure of your health
information. Your GP may need to remove any information that will affect the privacy of other
individuals.
Sharing information is important for good communication between you and practice staff. Your GP is
able to provide a full explanation of the health summary or medical record you are provided access
to.
Depending on what is involved, you may be asked to contribute to the cost of providing the
information.
How can you lodge a privacy-related complaint, and how will the complaint be handled at our
practice?
We take complaints and concerns regarding privacy seriously. You should express any privacy
concerns you may have in writing. admin@famprac19.com or a letter addressed to the Practice
Manager.
19
th Avenue Family Practice
Shop 17 19
th Avenue Shopping Centre,
Corner Angelica Street and Nineteenth Avenue
ELANORA QLD 4221
We will then attempt to resolve the complaint in accordance with our resolution procedure. This may
take up to 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 may contact the Queensland Office of the Health Ombudsman
PO BOX 13281 George Street
BRISBANE QLD 4003
Phone: 133 646
E: info@oho.qld.gov.au. W: https://www.oho.qld.gov.au
19th Avenue Family Prac
ce Privacy Policy as at 7th December 2022
Privacy and our website
Our website is to provide you the patient with information about our practice and does not ask to
collect information from you. The only exception is if you book an appointment directly via the
website link http://www.19thavefp.com.au
Policy review statement
This privacy policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure it is in accordance with any changes that may
occur.
We will re-print the document at the time of policy review, so that is available to patients at all times.