APP Privacy Policy Dr Robert Adler
Introduction I am committed to protecting the privacy of patient information and to handling your personal information in a responsible manner in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act 2012, the Australian Privacy Principles and relevant State and Territory privacy legislation (referred to as privacy legislation).
This Privacy Policy explains how I collect, use and disclose your personal information, how you may access that information and how you may seek the correction of any information. It also explains how you may make a complaint about a breach of privacy legislation.
This Privacy Policy is current from July 4, 2015. From time to time I may make changes to the policy, processes and systems in relation to how I handle your personal information. I will update this Privacy Policy to reflect any changes. Those changes will be available on our website and in the practice.
Collection I collect information that is necessary and relevant to provide you with medical care and treatment, and manage my medical practice. As much of my practice involves medico-legal assessments in various contexts, the information collected may be for the purpose of preparing a medico-legal report rather than for providing health care.
This information may include your name, address, date of birth, gender, health information, family history, credit card and direct debit details and contact details. This information is stored on our computer medical records system and/or in hand written medical records.
Wherever practicable I will only collect information from you personally. However, I may also need to collect information from other sources such as treating specialists, and other health care providers, with your permission. I may collect information in various ways, such as over the phone or in writing, in person in my rooms or over the internet. Some information may be collected by non-medical staff. I may also need to collect information from your relatives or friends.
I am required by law to retain medical records for certain periods of time depending on your age at the time I provide services.
Use and Disclosure I will treat your personal information as strictly private and confidential. I will only use or disclose it for purposes directly related to your care and treatment, or in ways that you would reasonably expect that I may use it for your ongoing care and treatment.
There are circumstances where I may be permitted or required by law to disclose your personal information to third parties. For example, to Medicare, Police, insurers, solicitors, government regulatory bodies, tribunals, courts of law, hospitals, or debt collection agents. I may also from time to time provide statistical data to third parties for research purposes.
I may disclose information about you to outside contractors to carry out activities on my behalf, such as a debt collection agent. I impose security and confidentiality requirements on how they handle your personal information. Outside contractors are required not to use information about you for any purpose except for those activities I have asked them to perform.
As much of my practice is of a medico-legal nature it is my practice to explain the limits of confidentiality of the information I collect at the beginning of the assessment and, in the case of medico-legal assessments, ask you to sign a waiver indicating that you consent to the release of the information to third parties in accordance with the purpose of the assessment
For example, in the case of assessments for the Family Court of Australia or the Federal Circuit Court, the report is routinely released to both parties (parents) and their solicitors as well as to the Independent Children’s Lawyer (if one has been appointed).
Data Quality and Security I take reasonable steps to ensure that your personal information is accurate, compete, up to date and relevant. For this purpose my staff may ask you to confirm that your contact details are correct when you attend a consultation. I ask that you let my personal assistant know if any of the information we hold about you is incorrect or out of date.
Personal information that I hold is protected by:
▶ securing our premises;
▶ placing passwords and varying access levels on databases to limit access and protect electronic information from unauthorised interference, access, modification and disclosure; and
▶ providing locked cabinets and rooms for the storage of physical records.
Corrections If you believe that the information I have about you is not accurate, complete or up-to-date, I ask that you contact me in writing (see details below).
Access You are entitled to request access to your medical records. I ask that you put your request in writing and I will respond to it within a reasonable time. There may be a fee for the administrative costs of retrieving and providing you with copies of your medical records.
I may deny access to your medical records in certain circumstances permitted by law, for example, if disclosure may cause a serious threat to your health or safety. I will always tell you why access is denied and the options you have to respond to our decision.
Complaints If you have a complaint about the privacy of your personal information, I request that you contact me in writing. Upon receipt of a complaint I will consider the details and attempt to resolve it in accordance with my complaints handling procedures.
If you are dissatisfied with our handling of a complaint or the outcome you may make an application to the Australian Information Commissioner, the Privacy Commissioner in your State or Territory.
Overseas Transfer of Data I will not transfer your personal information to an overseas recipient unless I have your consent or I am required to do so by law.
Please direct any queries, complaints, requests for access to medical records to:
Dr Robert Adler
[email protected]
Introduction I am committed to protecting the privacy of patient information and to handling your personal information in a responsible manner in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act 2012, the Australian Privacy Principles and relevant State and Territory privacy legislation (referred to as privacy legislation).
This Privacy Policy explains how I collect, use and disclose your personal information, how you may access that information and how you may seek the correction of any information. It also explains how you may make a complaint about a breach of privacy legislation.
This Privacy Policy is current from July 4, 2015. From time to time I may make changes to the policy, processes and systems in relation to how I handle your personal information. I will update this Privacy Policy to reflect any changes. Those changes will be available on our website and in the practice.
Collection I collect information that is necessary and relevant to provide you with medical care and treatment, and manage my medical practice. As much of my practice involves medico-legal assessments in various contexts, the information collected may be for the purpose of preparing a medico-legal report rather than for providing health care.
This information may include your name, address, date of birth, gender, health information, family history, credit card and direct debit details and contact details. This information is stored on our computer medical records system and/or in hand written medical records.
Wherever practicable I will only collect information from you personally. However, I may also need to collect information from other sources such as treating specialists, and other health care providers, with your permission. I may collect information in various ways, such as over the phone or in writing, in person in my rooms or over the internet. Some information may be collected by non-medical staff. I may also need to collect information from your relatives or friends.
I am required by law to retain medical records for certain periods of time depending on your age at the time I provide services.
Use and Disclosure I will treat your personal information as strictly private and confidential. I will only use or disclose it for purposes directly related to your care and treatment, or in ways that you would reasonably expect that I may use it for your ongoing care and treatment.
There are circumstances where I may be permitted or required by law to disclose your personal information to third parties. For example, to Medicare, Police, insurers, solicitors, government regulatory bodies, tribunals, courts of law, hospitals, or debt collection agents. I may also from time to time provide statistical data to third parties for research purposes.
I may disclose information about you to outside contractors to carry out activities on my behalf, such as a debt collection agent. I impose security and confidentiality requirements on how they handle your personal information. Outside contractors are required not to use information about you for any purpose except for those activities I have asked them to perform.
As much of my practice is of a medico-legal nature it is my practice to explain the limits of confidentiality of the information I collect at the beginning of the assessment and, in the case of medico-legal assessments, ask you to sign a waiver indicating that you consent to the release of the information to third parties in accordance with the purpose of the assessment
For example, in the case of assessments for the Family Court of Australia or the Federal Circuit Court, the report is routinely released to both parties (parents) and their solicitors as well as to the Independent Children’s Lawyer (if one has been appointed).
Data Quality and Security I take reasonable steps to ensure that your personal information is accurate, compete, up to date and relevant. For this purpose my staff may ask you to confirm that your contact details are correct when you attend a consultation. I ask that you let my personal assistant know if any of the information we hold about you is incorrect or out of date.
Personal information that I hold is protected by:
▶ securing our premises;
▶ placing passwords and varying access levels on databases to limit access and protect electronic information from unauthorised interference, access, modification and disclosure; and
▶ providing locked cabinets and rooms for the storage of physical records.
Corrections If you believe that the information I have about you is not accurate, complete or up-to-date, I ask that you contact me in writing (see details below).
Access You are entitled to request access to your medical records. I ask that you put your request in writing and I will respond to it within a reasonable time. There may be a fee for the administrative costs of retrieving and providing you with copies of your medical records.
I may deny access to your medical records in certain circumstances permitted by law, for example, if disclosure may cause a serious threat to your health or safety. I will always tell you why access is denied and the options you have to respond to our decision.
Complaints If you have a complaint about the privacy of your personal information, I request that you contact me in writing. Upon receipt of a complaint I will consider the details and attempt to resolve it in accordance with my complaints handling procedures.
If you are dissatisfied with our handling of a complaint or the outcome you may make an application to the Australian Information Commissioner, the Privacy Commissioner in your State or Territory.
Overseas Transfer of Data I will not transfer your personal information to an overseas recipient unless I have your consent or I am required to do so by law.
Please direct any queries, complaints, requests for access to medical records to:
Dr Robert Adler
[email protected]
