Your privacy is our concern
In accordance with section 6.1 of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), all information collected in this practice is treated as “sensitive information”. To protect your privacy, this practice operates in accordance with the Privacy Act and our Privacy Policy. A copy of our Privacy Policy is available free of charge from reception or on our website at cottagesugery.com.au
Your doctor uses this information you provide to manage your health care which may include using the information for the following purposes (including instructing this practice to use the information for the following purposes on your doctor’s behalf):
- Collect, record and store my personal and health information that will form part of an individualised comprised medical record.
- Issue reminders for specific health checks I may require, if any, as part of my consultation with my doctor and/or Nurse.
- Provide me with health information updates, general medical updates and provide my personal and health information to undertake administrative tasks involved in the running for the practice, and for my doctor, billing tasks which includes compliance with Medicare, Health Insurance Commission and other relevant Australian Government requirements.
You can assist in maintaining the accuracy of your information by advising your doctor or reception staff of changes in your contact details.
Selected information may be disclosed to various other health services involved in supporting your health care management (e.g. pathology, specialists, immunisation registers). You hereby acknowledge and consent to the disclosure and/or use of your personal health information by The Cottage Surgery, your doctor and persons directly or indirectly involved in your personal health care or medical treatment for that purpose including:
- Sending specimens obtained from your doctor to the necessary pathology provider for analysis. As a result, I understand that I may incur an out-of-pocket expense, by which a separate invoice will be issues by the relevant pathology provider. I understand that I will be liable for all expenses incurred.
- Disclosing my personal and health information to the relevant medical and allied health service providers involved in my care.
- Disclosing de-identified personal and health information for research and quality assurance purposes undertaken by my doctor to improve the quality of both individual and community health care needs and practice management. The Cottage Surgery will inform me when such activities are being conducted and give me the opportunity to ‘opt-out’ of any involvement at any time.
- Using my personal and health information by my doctor and other authorised individuals involved in my medical care and treatment, both directly and indirectly.
If you have any questions or concerns how we handle your personal health information or need to arrange access to your records, please ask the staff or you doctor, as appropriate.
I am not obliged to provide information requested of me, but that my failure to do so may compromise the quality of care provided to me by my doctor.
I understand my right to access both my personal and health information held by The Cottage Surgery, except in circumstances where access is legitimately withheld. If my personal and health information is to be used for any other purpose, other than what is set above, further consent will be obtained.
I understand it is my responsibility to inform The Cottage Surgery as soon as I can of any changes to my personal and health information. If any information health about me is inaccurate, I may request to have this altered accordingly.
