Privacy policy.

Current as of: 1 July 2024

Introduction

This privacy policy is to provide to you information on how your personal information (which includes your health information) is collected and used within this practice, and the circumstances in which I may share it with others. 

Why and when your consent is necessary 

When you become a patient of this practice, you provide consent for me to access and use your personal information so I can provide you with the best possible health care. Only medical professionals who need to see your personal information will have access to it. If I need to use your information for anything else, I will seek consent from you to do this. If you do not provide this information; I may be unable to treat you. 

Why do I collect, use, hold and share your personal information? 

This practice will need to collect your personal information to provide quality health care services to you. The main purpose for collecting, using, holding, and sharing your personal information is to thoroughly assess and manage your health needs. I also use it for administrative purposes of the practice, billing, for directly related business activities, such as payments, practice audits, and business processes.

What personal information do I collect? 

The information collected about you includes your:

  • names, date of birth, addresses, contact details, occupation

  • medical information including presenting complaint, medical history, current and previous medications, known allergic reactions, adverse events, immunisations, past and family history, relevant lifestyle history, risk factors, findings from pathology tests or other investigations. 

Dealing with me anonymously 

You have the right to deal with me anonymously or under a pseudonym unless it is impracticable for me to do so or unless I am required or authorised by law to only deal with identified individuals. 

How do I collect your personal information? 

This practice may collect your personal information in several different ways.

  1. When you make your first appointment, I will collect your personal and demographic information via your registration.

  2. During the course of providing health care services, I may collect further personal information. 

  3. I may also collect your personal information when you visit our website, send us an email or SMS, telephone us, make an online appointment or communicate with us using social media (e.g. Instagram, Facebook).

  4. In some circumstances personal information may also be collected from other sources. Often this is because it is not practical or reasonable to collect it from you directly. This may include information from:

  • your guardian or responsible person

  • other involved health care providers, such as specialists, allied health professionals, hospitals, community health services and pathology and diagnostic imaging services

  • your health fund, Medicare, or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (as necessary). 

When, why and with whom do I share your personal information?

I will only disclose your personal information for the purpose or purposes of consultation with another practitioner or as otherwise permitted by law and only with your consent. This may include disclosure of information to your doctors or other health professionals. In the case of insurance or compensation claim it may be necessary to disclose and or collect information that concerns your return to work to an insurer or your employer.

Only people who need to access your information will be able to do so. Other than in the course of providing health care services or as otherwise described in this policy, this practice will not share personal information with any third party without your consent.

I will not share your personal information with anyone outside Australia (unless under exceptional circumstances that are permitted by law) without your consent.

This practice will not use your personal information for marketing any goods or services to you without your express consent. If you do consent, you may opt out of direct marketing at any time by notifying this practice in writing. 

This practice may use your personal information to improve the quality of the services offered to patients through research and analysis of patient data. 

How do I store and protect your personal information?

Your personal information may be stored at my practice in various forms including paper records, electronic records, X-rays, CT scans, videos, photos, audio recordings.

This practice stores all personal information securely in software program or in a filing cabinet under lock and key.

How can you access and correct your personal information?

You have the right to request access to, and correction of, your personal information.

This practice acknowledges patients may request access to their medical records. I require you to put this request in writing and I will respond within 30 days. 

I will take reasonable steps to correct your personal information where the information is not accurate or up to date. From time to time, I will ask you to verify that your personal information is correct and current. You may also request that I correct or update your information, and you should make such requests in writing to beyondhealth.laurenlee@gmail.com

How can you lodge a privacy-related complaint, and how will the complaint be handled at this practice?

I take complaints and concerns regarding privacy seriously. You should express any privacy concerns you may have in writing to beyondhealth.laurenlee@gmail.com. I will then attempt to resolve it within 30 days in accordance with my resolution procedure. 

You may also contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). Generally, the OAIC will require you to give them time to respond before they will investigate. For further information visit www.oaic.gov.au or call the OAIC on 1300 363 992.

Privacy and website 

When you visit the www.beyondhealthbylaurenlee.com.au certain information is automatically collected about your device, including information about your web browser, IP address, time zone, and some of the installed cookies on your device. Additionally, as you browse the Site, information is collected information about the individual web pages or products you view, what websites or search terms referred you to the Site, and how you interact with the Site. I refer to this automatically-collected information as “Device Information.” Moreover, I might collect the personal data you provide to me (including but not limited to Name, Surname, Address, payment information, etc.) during registration to be able to fulfil the agreement.

Policy review statement

This privacy policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure it is in accordance with any changes that may occur. Please note the ‘Current as of’ date specified at the top of this page.