Privacy Policy
This practice policy outlines how the practice uses and manages your health information. The Notice to Patients is posted in our patient waiting area as a summary statement of the policy. The practice is bound by the Australian Privacy Principles contained in the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Act) and applicable State legislation.
The practice will review and update this Privacy Policy on a regular basis.
Collection And Use Of Information
It is our usual practice to only collect health information directly from our patients or their authorised representatives.
Personal information such as your name, address, contact details, health insurance and financial details are used for the purpose of addressing accounts to you, as well as for processing payments, collecting unpaid invoices via an external collection agency, and writing to you about our services and any issues affecting your health care.
We will only collect your e-mail address if you send us a message or you provide us with your address directly. Your email address will only be used for the purpose for which you have provided it, and it will not be added to a mailing list or used for any other purpose without your consent. We may however, use your email address to contact you to obtain your consent for other purposes, but will give you the option of having your address deleted from our records at that time.
The practice may collect health information from a third party or a publicly available source, but only if the patient consents to such collection or would reasonably expect us to collect their health information from the third party, or if collection is necessary to provide the patient with appropriate health care.
Website Security
The protection of personal privacy is our practice’s priority.
Our practice website is hosted by an Australian based company governed by Australian Privacy Law. The records made comprise the following and are not connected in any way to a user name or personal details:
- Your computer IP address
- The date, time and duration of your visit to the www.csdp.com.au
- The pages you accessed and documents downloaded
- The type of browser you are using
The data collected is also recorded by the third party tool Google Analytics which is tracking and recording the same data as listed above for monitoring usage patterns in order to improve navigation and design features – helping you to get information more easily.
Use And Disclosure
The practice only uses health information for the purposes of providing you with health care or for purposes which are directly related to providing you with health care. In addition, personal information is used to administer your invoicing for dental services, credit card payments, process health insurance claims or to collect unpaid invoices via an external collection agency. We will not use your health information for any other purpose unless one of the following applies:
You have consented;
The other purpose is directly related to providing you with health services and you would reasonably expect that your information may be used for that purpose; For example, the practice may disclose your health information to another health service provider for the purpose of providing you with health care. or
The use of your health information is required or authorised by law.
Data Quality
The practice takes steps to ensure that the health information we collect is accurate, up to date and complete. These steps include maintaining and updating personal and health information when you attend the practice or you advise us that your personal information has changed.
The practice keeps a hybrid of both and takes reasonable steps to protect those records against loss, unauthorised access, use, modification or disclosure, or other misuse.
The practice ensures that hard-copy records are kept in locked files and there are security processes in place regarding computer access. The practice has taken steps to ensure that electronic data is backed-up. After a period of 7 years (and if you attended the practice as a child, you have reached the age of 25) we may destroy your records in accordance with applicable laws.
Data Security
In the interests of your privacy, and given the inherent insecurity of information passed over the Internet, we do not currently /generally support the transmission of personal health information to or from our patients over the Internet. If you send any personal health information to us via the Internet, we cannot guarantee its security.
On occasions it is necessary to transfer records via email to a dental specialist /other dental practice. This can be necessary in urgent circumstances/the necessity for high quality resolution of radiographs. The addressee at the receiving practice is the Practice Manager. This practice maintains a Patient Disclosure Log sheet to track all records transferred. Entries of transfers are recorded into patient’s records. Privacy warnings are included in all emails.
Access And Correction
If an individual requests access to health or personal information we hold about them, or requests that we change that information, we will allow access or make the changes unless we consider that there is a sound reason under the Privacy Act, or other relevant law to withhold the information, or not make the changes.
Requests for access or correction must be in writing and directed to the practice Privacy Officer. If you have any questions, the Privacy Officer can be contacted during business hours at the practice.
The practice may charge for access to or copies of health records.
Marketing
The practice’s marketing functions support the growth and development of the practice and to provide you with information about services offered at the practice.
The practice does not use your personal information for the purpose of direct marketing; and will not on-sell your personal information.
In the event the practice implemented marketing materials from the practice your consent to receive such information would be required to proceed. If you decide not to receive such information, a request can easily be made to the Privacy Officer or another staff member at the practice.
Non-Disclosure Of Information
Although we respect your right to privacy, if you choose not to provide us with information relevant to your care, we may not be able to provide a service to you or the service we are asked to provide may not be appropriate for your needs.Importantly, you could suffer some harm or other adverse outcome if you do not provide information relevant to your care.
Complaints
We take your privacy seriously. If you suspect there has been or may have been a breach of your privacy, you can complain directly to the practice Privacy Officer.
In the event of a privacy breach, the practice will comply with applicable guides or guidelines issued by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner for the handling of privacy breaches.
For more information about Privacy laws, or to raise concerns about any matter not satisfactorily resolved with the practice you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (www.oaic.gov.au or ph. 1300363992). Privacy and general complaints about your care can also be directed to the Health Services Commissioner.
