Introduction
This privacy policy is to provide information to you, the client, on how your personal information (which includes your health information) is collected and used within this practice, and the circumstances in which it may be shared with third parties.
Why and when your consent is necessary
When you register as a client of this practice, you provide consent for Carmen Debono to use your personal information, so she can provide you with the best possible service. If your information is needed for anything else, Carmen will seek additional consent from you to do this.
Why do I collect, use, hold and share your personal information?
This practice will need to collect your personal information to provide services to you. The main purpose for collecting, using, holding and sharing your personal information is to manage your health. It will also be used for directly related business activities, such as financial claims and payments, practice audits and accreditation, and business processes.
What personal information do I collect?
The information that will be collected about you includes your:
• names, date of birth, addresses, contact details
• medical information including medical history, medications, allergies, adverse events, immunisations, social history, family history and risk factors
• nominated payment details
• healthcare identifiers
• health fund details
How do I collect your personal information?
This practice may collect your personal information in several different ways.
• When you make your first appointment, our practice staff will collect your personal and demographic information via your registration.
• I may also collect your personal information when you visit this website, send an email or SMS, telephone, make an online appointment or communicate with me using social media.
• 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 healthcare providers, such as General Practitioners, specialists, hospitals, community health services and pathology and diagnostic imaging services
• your health fund or the like (as necessary).
When why and with whom do I share your personal information?
We sometimes share your personal information:
• with third parties who work with this practice for business purposes, such information technology providers
• with other healthcare providers
• when it is required or authorised by law (e.g. court subpoenas)
• when it is necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to a client’s life, health or safety or public health or safety, or it is impractical to obtain the patient’s consent
• to assist in locating a missing person
• to establish, exercise or defend an equitable claim
• for the purpose of confidential dispute resolution process
• when there is a statutory requirement to share certain personal information
Only people who need to access your information will be able to do so. Other than while providing these services or as otherwise described in this policy, this practice will not share personal information with any third party without your consent.
This practice will not use your personal information for marketing any of our goods or services directly to you without your express consent. If you do consent, you may opt out of direct marketing at any time by notifying our practice in writing.
How do I store and protect your personal information?
Note here the different ways you store data and how it is kept protected e.g. paper records, electronic records, visual records.
Example:
Your personal information may be stored at this practice in various forms. Personal information is primarily stored in the clinical software system which is used to record client information, client notes, and booking details.
Forms are generated using an online software system. Information collected is stored on an Australian server. Hard copies of records are also stored under lock and key and securely stored whilst active. This practice stores all personal information securely. I also use password protected computers, tablets, and smartphones. Access to personal information is only given to contractors (such as our IT service provider) who require it to complete their job.
I store and dispose of personal information held within records in accordance with the Archives Act 1983 and relevant records authorities.
How can I access and correct your personal information at this practice?
You have the right to request access to, and correction of, your personal information. You are required to put this request in writing. Alternatively, you can request a copy of the form can be emailed to you. We will provide the requested information within 30 days of receiving your request via the contact form. A fee may apply.
This practice will take reasonable steps to correct your personal information where the information is not accurate or up to date. From time to time, you will be asked to verify that your personal information held by this practice is correct and current. You may also request that I correct or update your information, and you should make such requests.
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 via the below contact details. We will then attempt to resolve it in accordance with our resolution procedure.
Attn: Carmen Debono
info@carmendebono.com.au
PO Box 3077 Mount Druitt Village, NSW, 2770
0420909447
I will respond to the complaint within 30 days of receiving the complaint in writing. You may also contact the OAIC. For further information, visit www.oaic.gov.au or call the OAIC on 1300 363 992.
Privacy and this website
How your personal information is protected
The security of your personal information is important and while I strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, its absolute security cannot be guaranteed.
This Privacy Policy applies to all personal information collected by Carmen Debono via the website located at www.carmendebono.com.au.
1. What is “personal information”?
1. The Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) currently defines “personal information” as meaning information or an opinion about an identified individual or an individual who is reasonably identifiable:
1. whether the information or opinion is true or not; and
2. whether the information or opinion is recorded in a material form or not.
2. If the information does not disclose your identity or enable your identity to be ascertained, it will in most cases not be classified as “personal information” and will not be subject to this privacy policy.
2. What information do we collect?
1. The kind of personal information that will be collected from you will depend on how you use the website. The personal information which is collected and held about you may include: name, email address and preferences.
3. How we collect your personal information
1. The collection of personal information from you whenever you input such information into the website.
2. To improve your experience on this site, ‘cookies’ may be used. A cookie is a small text file that this site may place on your computer as a tool to remember your preferences. You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser, however, please note that if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website.
4. Purpose of collection
1. The purpose for which we collect personal information is to provide you with the best service experience possible on the website.
2. By using this website, you consent to the receipt of direct marketing material. We will only use your personal information for this purpose if I have collected such information directly from you, and if it is material of a type which you would reasonably expect to receive from me. I do not use sensitive personal information in direct marketing activity. My direct marketing material will include a simple means by which you can request not to receive further communications of this nature.
3. I may employ third-party companies and individuals to facilitate this website service, to provide a website service on my behalf, or to assist with analysing how this website is used.
These third parties have access to your personal information shared via the website, only to perform these tasks on my behalf, and are obligated not to disclose or use it for any other purpose. By using this website, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner described in Google’s Privacy Policy and for the purposes set out above. You can opt out of Google Analytics if you disable or refuse the cookie, disable JavaScript, or use the opt-out service provided by Google.
This website also uses interfaces with social media sites such as Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and others. If you choose to “like” or “share” information from this website through these services, you should review the privacy policy of that service. If you are a member of a social media site, the interfaces may allow the social media site to connect your visits to this website with other Personal Information.
5. Other websites
This website may contain links to other websites. Please be aware that I am not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites, and these websites are not subject to my privacy policy. I’m not responsible for the content of these websites or the privacy practices of these sites. If you navigate to other websites via our website, you are advised to read their privacy policy.
6. Embedded Content
This website may include embedded content (e.g. videos, images, articles, etc.). Embedded content belongs to the website it links to and thus their website may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content.
7. Post Comments
When visitors leave comments on the website, data is collected and shown in the comments form, as well as the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help with spam detection.
8. Policy review statement
I may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.