Disclaimer
Trafalgar Medical is not responsible for, and expressly disclaims all liability for, damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance on any information contained within the site. While the information contained within the site is periodically updated, no guarantee is given that the information provided in this website is correct, complete and up-to-date.
Although Trafalgar Medical website may include links providing direct access to other internet resources, we are not responsible for the accuracy or content of information contained in these sites. Links to third-party sites does not constitute an endorsement by Trafalgar Medical of the parties or their products and services.
Trafalgar Medical Privacy Policy
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.
Trafalgar Medical will protect the privacy of personal information we collect, hold and administer and will do this in accordance with legislation and the Australian Privacy Principles.
Trafalgar Medical recognises that the nature of these services can mean that some of the information we handle is sensitive. It is recognised that privacy principles protect personal information both as a matter of individual right, and to support the public interest.
Why and when your consent is necessary
When you register as a patient of Trafalgar Medical, 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?
Trafalgar Medical 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).
The information we will 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
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?
Trafalgar Medical 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. Information can also be collected through electronic transfer of MyHealth Record (e.g. via Shared Health Summary, Event Summary), healthLink, SafeScript and Argus.
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. 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.
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 (e.g. 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 (e.g. some diseases require mandatory notification)
* during the course of providing medical services, through MyHealth Record (e.g. via Shared Health Summary, Event Summary), healthLink, SafeScript and Argus.
* 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.
Trafalgar Medical 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 as an electronic health record, which includes X-rays, scans and in some instances photos.
We store all personal information securely. Our information systems are protected and backed-up, the practice team have signed confidentiality agreements and they use passwords to access your information.
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.
Trafalgar Medical acknowledges patients may request access to their medical records. We require you to put this request in writing via a letter sent to the Trafalgar Medical Coordinator and we will respond within 30 days. Please note that fees maybe associated with providing this information.
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 the Trafalgar Medical Coordinator via reception@trafmc.com.au
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. We will then attempt to resolve it in accordance with our Complaints, Compliments and Feedback Procedure.
Our Privacy Officer is: Ruth Marx, Trafalgar Medical Coordinator.
You may also contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). Generally, the OAIC will require you to give them time to respond before they will investigate. For further information visit https://www.oaic.gov.au/ or call the OAIC on 1300 363 992.
Alternatively, you can contact the Victorian Office of the Health Services Commissioner on 1300 582 113 or visit www.health.vic.gov.au
Privacy and our Website
Trafalgar Medical collects and uses your personal information to operate the website. Trafalgar Medical does not sell, rent or lease its customer lists to third parties. We do not use or disclose sensitive personal information without your explicit consent.
The Trafalgar Medical website uses “cookies” to help you personalize your online experience. A cookie is a text file that is placed on your hard disk by a web page server. Cookies cannot be used to run programs or deliver viruses to your computer. Cookies are uniquely assigned to you, and can only be read by a web server in the domain that issued the cookie to you.
Policy Review Statement
This policy will be reviewed on an annual basis, significant changes will be communicated to patients.
Additional Information
For more information on privacy visit the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner https://www.oaic.gov.au/
Definitions
Personal health information: is a particular subset of personal information and can include any information collected about a person in order to provide a health service.
Records: all information created, sent and received in the course of a person’s job is potentially a record. Records provide evidence of Trafalgar Medical business. Whether something is a record depends on the information it contains and the context. Records can be paper, digital or other formats.
Confidentiality: is a separate legal concept where information is given to a person under an obligation to keep the information confidential (for example, health information).
Relevant Legislation
* Australian Privacy Principles 2014
* Privacy Act 1988 (Commonwealth)
* Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act 2012
* Privacy Amendment (Notifiable Data Breaches) Act 2017
* Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014
Current as of March 2019
Adapted from the RACGP Privacy Policy template