Tyack Corporate Health’s Privacy Policy

Tyack Corporate Health’s privacy policy is developed in compliance with Australia’s privacy legislation.

Collection and Use of client Information
• To provide a quality on-going health care service, Tyack Corporate Health collects information about its clients. Sensitive information such as current and previous medical conditions and family health history are necessary to provide an accurate diagnosis, appropriate recommendations and ongoing support. Other personal information is required in order to contact clients regarding health issues as well as for follow up purposes.

Disclosure of client Information
• All clients have a right to confidentiality of their client records. Unless the client grants a third party authority to access client records in writing, only the client will be granted access to their personal client information.
• To provide continuity of care, client information, which is collected, may be shared with other health care providers (doctors, hospitals, pathologists, specialists etc.). Upon request, relevant information will be made available to other health service providers,
• Client health information will not be used for any other purpose without client consent. However, there are some circumstances when information has to be disclosed without client consent, such as emergency situations, reporting communicable diseases, and fulfilling medical indemnity insurance requirements. Where applicable, client information may also be provided to Medicare and private health funds.
• Practitioners may be legally bound to disclose client information in certain situations, for example, medical defence purposes and reporting communicable diseases. Records must also be disclosed under court orders, subpoenas, search warrants and Coroner's Court cases.
• Children and other dependant relatives also have the right to privacy of their health information. Access by other individuals (eg. parents, guardians, carers etc.) will be determined by medical and legal privacy requirements and each request for access will be addressed on an individual basis.
• For research programs clients will be requested to provide informed consent for his/her personal health information to be released for use as research data.

Data Quality and Security of Client Information
• It is the policy of Tyack Corporate Health to maintain accurate, up-to-date and complete records.
• Client information may be stored on paper and/or in electronic formats.
• It is the policy of Tyack Corporate Health to protect client information from loss and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.
• Client information will be kept at the head office of Tyack Corporate Health as long as is legally necessary or required for administrative purposes. If information is no longer needed after this time, it will be destroyed in a secure manner.

Access and Correction of Client Information
• Under Australia’s privacy legislation, all clients have the right to access their personal records.

• Requests for access to personal records must be in writing.

• Clients can ask to view information or have a copy of all, or part, of client records. A consultation with a practitioner may be required for this access, (this cannot be claimed under Medicare for a GP appointment).

• All clients are able to have incomplete or inaccurate information amended.

• There are some circumstances, such as for legal reasons, where access to client information will be denied. If this is the case, the client will be advised of the reason.

• There is no charge for lodging a request for access, however, a charge may be made if Bayside Physical Health Centre incurs costs in providing access to records.

Anonymity
• Under privacy legislation, clients may choose to remain anonymous if it is lawful and practicable to do so. In a medical context it may be dangerous for clients to remain anonymous. It is not possible to claim Medicare and health insurance rebates without providing some identifying information.

Computerised Program
• As Tyack Corporate Health is computerized, all client records are stored in a secure electronic form. From time to time computer administrators are authorised to provide maintenance support on this system and may be granted access at this time.

Complaints

• All client complaints regarding the handling of records should be discussed with the medical staff or the Program Manager.

• Further concerns may be forwarded to:

Federal Privacy Commissioner:
GPO Box 5218
Sydney NSW 1042

Privacy Hotline: 1300 363 992
Website: www.privacy.gov.au