Privacy Policy

Introduction

The purpose of this document is to outline how Lindfield Podiatry complies with its confidentiality and privacy obligations. As a practice, Lindfield Podiatry’s principal concern is and always will be the health of patients who visit our Practice. A high level of trust and confidentiality is required to ensure the confidence of the patients we serve.

Patients will be assured that:

• their privacy will be protected when visiting the Practice;
• the information collected and retained in our records is correct and up-to-date; and
• they can access their information for review.

Health information

Lindfield podiatry recognises that the information we collect is often of a sensitive nature and as an organisation we have adopted privacy compliance standards relevant to Lindfield Podiatry to ensure personal information is protected.

For administrative and billing purposes, and to enable the patients to be attended to by other practitioners at the Practice, patient information is shared between the practitioners at the Practice. Lindfield Podiatry and the podiatry practitioners may collect personal information regarding patients (including health information) for the purpose of providing podiatry services and treatment.

Personal information collected will generally include:

• the patient’s name, address, telephone number and Medicare number,
• current drugs or treatments used by the patient,
• previous/current medical history, including, where clinically relevant, a family medical history, and
• the name of any health service provider or medical specialist to whom the patient is referred, copies of any letters of referrals and copies of any reports back.

Lindfield Podiatry may access information:

• provided directly by the patient,
• provided on the patient’s behalf with the patient’s consent,
• from a health service provider who refers the patient to podiatry practitioners providing services at or from Lindfield Podiatry or from health service providers to whom patients are referred.

Use or disclosure of personal information

Personal information collected by Lindfield Podiatry may be used or disclosed:

• for the purpose advised to the patient at the time of collection of the information,
• as required for delivery of the podiatry service to the patient,
• as required for the ordinary operation of our services (i.e. to refer the patient to a doctor or other health service provider),
• as required under compulsion of law, or
• where there is a serious and imminent threat to an individual’s life, health, or safety; or a serious threat to public health or public safety.
• Lindfield Podiatry may use or disclose personal information for quality assurance, training, billing, liaising with government offices regarding Department of Veteran’s Affairs entitlements and payments and as may be required by the Practice’s insurers.

Accuracy of your information

Lindfield Podiatry is committed to ensuring your information is accurate and has processes in place to ensure that the accuracy of this information is maintained. If you believe that the personal information the Practice holds about you is inaccurate, please inform the podiatrist when next attending the Centre.

Security of information collected

Other than as described in this Policy or permitted under privacy principles, Lindfield Podiatry uses its reasonable endeavours to ensure that identifying health information is not disclosed to any person unnecessarily or irresponsibly.

Due to the sensitive nature of the information collected by the Practice to provide its services, precautions are taken to ensure the security of that information. Information may be stored electronically and / or in hard copy form.

Lindfield Podiatry requires its employees to observe obligations of confidentiality in the course of their employment with all staff/contractors signing Confidentiality Agreements.

How long are medical records kept?

Lindfield Podiatry keeps health information for a minimum of 7 years from the date of last entry in the patient records unless the patient is / was a child in which case the record must be kept until the patient attains or would have attained 18 years of age.

Accessing your information

On request, you may have access to your patient record held by Lindfield Podiatry, except in circumstances where access may be denied under the ‘Privacy Act’ or other laws.

Complaints

Any complaints regarding this privacy policy and /or use of information collected by us should be directed to the Privacy Officer. We will comprehensively investigate any complaints and attempt to resolve any breach that may have occurred in relation to collection, use or destruction of personal information held by Lindfield Podiatry in accordance with Commonwealth Privacy Legislation.

Changes to the Privacy Policy

Lindfield Podiatry has the right to change the Privacy Policy at any time. If there are updates to Lindfield Podiatry’s Privacy Policy, we will address the changes promptly and update the revision date of this document.

Contact information

If you have any queries regarding our Privacy Policy please contact:

Carin Bloom
The Privacy Officer
Lindfield Podiatry
Suite 2, 324 Pacific Highway,
Lindfield NSW 2070