We take your privacy very seriously.  Privacy protection and confidentiality of health information is essential for quality health care and we here at Barwon Endocrinology are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of the information we handle about you.

Collection of Information
Barwon Endocrinology collects and holds personal information about you so that we may properly assess, diagnose, treat and be proactive in your health care requirements.

The type of personal information we collect may include:

• Personal details (name, address, date of birth, Medicare number)

• Your medical history

• Notes made during the course of a medical consultation

• Referral to other health service providers

• Results and reports received from other health service providers, and

• Credit card or direct debit information for billing purposes

 

Wherever practicable we will collect this information from you personally – either here at the practice, over the phone, via written correspondence or via the internet if you transact with us online.

In some cases we may need to collect information about you from other sources such as referring doctors, treating doctors, treating specialists, pathology, radiology, hospitals or other health care providers.

In an emergency, we may collect information from your immediate family, friends or carers.

Use and Disclosure
Your personal information will only be used or disclosed for purposes directly related to providing you with quality health care, or in ways you would reasonably expect us to use it in order to provide you with this service.

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This includes use or disclosure:

• To the professional team directly involved in your health care, including treating doctors, pathology services and other specialists outside this medical practice.

• To our administrative staff for billing and other administrative tasks which are necessary to run the practice.

• To your health insurance fund, Medicare or other organisations responsible for the financial aspects of your care

• Where required by law pursuant to a subpoena

• To insurers or lawyers for the defence of a medical claim

• To assist with training and education of other health care professionals

 

Information Quality
We aim to ensure that the information we hold about you is accurate, complete, up to date and relevant.  For this reason the staff here may ask you to confirm that your personal details are correct when you attend a consultation.  If you choose not to provide us with the personal details requested, it may limit our ability to provide you with full service.  If you have concerns about providing us with your personal information we encourage you to discuss your concerns with our reception staff before your first consultation or with your doctor.

Storage
Barwon Endocrinology takes all reasonable steps to protect the security of your personal information by:

• Securing our premises

• Using passwords on all electronic systems and database

• Access to your personal information

 

Under law you have the right to access the personal information we hold about you.  Should you wish to have access to your personal information we ask you put your request in writing.

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