Patient Privacy

Introduction

Our practice is committed to best practice in relation to the management of personal and health information. This practice has developed a policy to protect patient privacy in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (‘the Privacy Act’), the Australian Privacy Principles, the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (NSW) and the Health Privacy Principles.

Nourishing Minds Psychiatry is not currently providing ongoing clinical care or accepting new referrals. The practice continues to hold and manage personal and health information collected in connection with previous patient care and associated administrative activities.

Our policy is to inform you of:

The kinds of information that we collect and hold, which, as a medical practice, is likely to be ‘health information’ for the purposes of applicable privacy legislation.
How we collect and hold personal information.
The purposes for which we collect, hold, use and disclose personal information.
How you may access your personal information and seek the correction of that information.
How you may complain about a breach of applicable privacy requirements and how we will deal with such a complaint.
Whether we are likely to disclose personal information to overseas recipients.

How do we collect and hold personal information?

Personal information held by the practice is generally collected:

From you directly when you provided your details to us, including through online forms, registration forms, telephone conversations or videoconference consultations.
From a person responsible for you, where appropriate.
From third parties where privacy legislation or other law allows it. This may include other members of your treating team, diagnostic centres, specialists, hospitals, My Health Record, electronic prescription services, Medicare, your health insurer and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

The practice may continue to receive or collect information where necessary for records management, transfer of care, privacy, administrative or legal purposes.

Why do we collect, hold, use and disclose personal information?

Personal and health information held by the practice may continue to be used or disclosed where reasonably necessary or authorised or required by law for purposes including:

Managing, maintaining and archiving clinical records.
Facilitating the transfer of relevant clinical information to another healthcare provider where appropriately authorised or otherwise permitted by law.
Responding to requests for access to or correction of personal information.
Completing necessary administrative, billing or records management activities relating to previous care.
Meeting legal, regulatory, professional indemnity and insurance obligations.
Responding to lawful requests from courts, regulatory bodies or government agencies.
Responding to circumstances where disclosure is permitted or required by law, including certain emergency situations.
Managing privacy-related enquiries or complaints.

How can you access and correct your personal information?

You have a right to request access to, and correction of, personal information which we hold about you. There may be circumstances where access can lawfully be restricted or refused, and an explanation will be provided where required.

Requests relating to access, correction or transfer of clinical information should preferably be directed to:

Privacy Officer
Nourishing Minds Psychiatry
Email: privacy@nourishingminds.com.au
Postal correspondence: Level 6, 275 Alfred St, North Sydney NSW 2060

Email is the preferred method of contact for privacy, access, correction and medical records enquiries.

Requests will be processed within the timeframe required by applicable privacy legislation. A reasonable fee may be charged where permitted by law for providing access to health information or preparing copies of records.

How do we hold your personal information?

We take reasonable steps to protect personal and health information from misuse, interference, loss and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. Information is held using secure electronic systems and appropriate administrative safeguards.

Clinical records are retained in accordance with applicable legal and professional requirements:

For adult patients, health information is retained for a minimum of 7 years from the date of the last health service provided.
Where health information was collected while a patient was under 18 years of age, it is retained until the individual reaches 25 years of age.

When records are no longer required to be retained, they will be managed in accordance with applicable legal and professional requirements, including requirements relating to secure disposal.

Privacy-related questions and complaints

If you have any questions about privacy-related issues or wish to complain about the handling of your personal information, please contact:

Privacy Officer
Nourishing Minds Psychiatry
Email: privacy@nourishingminds.com.au
Postal correspondence: Level 6, 275 Alfred St, North Sydney NSW 2060

Please include “Attention: Privacy Officer – Privacy Complaint” in the subject line where possible.

The practice will review and respond to privacy complaints within a reasonable period.

If you are dissatisfied with our response, you may refer the matter to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC):

Phone: 1300 363 992
Web: www.oaic.gov.au

Anonymity and pseudonyms

The Privacy Act provides that individuals have the option of not identifying themselves or of using a pseudonym when dealing with an organisation, except in certain circumstances, including where this is impracticable.

Because health records relate to identifiable individuals, the practice may need to confirm your identity and authority before providing access to or releasing clinical information.

Overseas disclosure

Personal information may be disclosed to an overseas healthcare provider where you request or authorise the transfer of relevant clinical information. The practice may also use technology or service providers that involve the processing or management of information outside Australia. Where personal information is disclosed to an overseas recipient, the practice takes reasonable steps to ensure that it is handled in accordance with applicable Australian privacy requirements.

Contact details for privacy-related issues

Privacy Officer
Nourishing Minds Psychiatry

Preferred contact: privacy@nourishingminds.com.au

Postal correspondence: Level 6, 275 Alfred St, North Sydney NSW 2060

Email is the preferred method of contact for privacy related enquiries and requests.