Life Osteopathy Privacy Policy

Current as of 15th October 2021

Purpose

Life Osteopathy (referred to in this document as we, us, or our) is committed to protecting all personal information we collect from you per the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act), Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), and registered privacy codes. This policy details how we collect, use, and manage personal information about you, and details the circumstances in which we may share your personal information with third parties.

Personal information

Registering as a patient of our practice means that you provide consent for our practitioners and practice staff to access and use your personal information so they can provide you with the best possible healthcare.

Personal information we collect includes your name, date of birth, address/es, contact details, Medicare number, healthcare identifiers, health fund details, and medical information (medical history, medications, allergies, adverse events, immunisations, personal history, family history, and risk factors).

We uphold our ethical and legal obligations to protect your privacy, holding all information collected and stored about you in confidence, unless the release of information is required by law or public interest considerations.

We protect your privacy by:

• applying appropriate security to electronic and hard copy information and health records collected and stored
• seeking written consent from patients or clients before disclosing information, where practicable
• maintaining up to date knowledge of federal and state legislation requirements
• providing appropriate surroundings to enable private and confidential consultations and discussions to take place
• ensuring that all staff are aware of the need to respect the confidentiality and privacy of patients or clients and refrain from discussing patients or clients in a non-professional context
• complying with relevant legislation, policies and procedures relating to consent
• using consent processes, including formal documentation if required, for the release and exchange of health and medical information, and
• ensuring that use of social media and e-health is consistent with the practitioner’s ethical and legal obligations to protect privacy.

Maintaining anonymity

You have the right to deal with us anonymously or under a pseudonym, unless it is impracticable for us to do so or unless we are required or authorised by law to only deal with identified individuals.

Personal information collection methods

We may collect your personal information via telephone, SMS, email, online bookings through our website, social media direct messaging, and client registration form.

In some circumstances, your personal information may 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, or other involved healthcare 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).

Direct Marketing

Our practice will not use your personal information for marketing any of our goods or services directly to you without your express consent. You may opt-out of direct marketing at any time by notifying our practice in writing.

Providing your information to others

We respect your right to decide how your personal information is used or shared. For example, this may be sharing your health information with doctors or specialists. Personal information that identifies you will only be sent to other people with your consent unless there are exceptional circumstances. Gaining your consent is our guiding principle in using and sharing your information.

We will not share your personal health information with anyone else or another organisation unless:

• you have given written consent for this to occur, or
• they are legally obliged to disclose the information, in which case your practitioner will first discuss with you the information that she or he is legally obliged to disclose, or
• the information is necessary for you to obtain Medicare or other health insurance rebates, or
• there is an overriding public health and safety interest in the release of the information.

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

Storage and protection of personal information

We ensure the safety of all paper and digital information collected and stored from risks such as loss or unauthorised access, destruction, use, modification or disclosure of data. For example, your personal information is maintained in a secure environment that can be accessed only by authorised personnel and your personal information is stored on our internal server. However, no data transmission over the internet or information stored on servers accessible through the internet can be guaranteed to be fully secure. These activities are undertaken at your risk.

Our practice stores all personal information securely. We use professional practice management software, Power Diary, to store our patient files. This uses 2048-bit encryption for a secure HTTPS connection.

Accessing your medical records

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

Our practice will take reasonable steps to correct your personal information where the information is not accurate or up to date. From time to time, we will ask you to verify that your personal information held by our practice is correct and current. You may also request that we correct or update your information, and you should make such requests in writing via email to here or to:

The practice manager

Life Time Therapy Services

29 Haase Crescent

Ormeau QLD

4208

Our practice acknowledges patients may request access to their medical records. We require you to put this request in writing and our practice will respond within 30 days. There will be a $5 fee for administration costs.

Complaints and dispute resolution procedures

We take complaints and concerns regarding privacy seriously. You should express any privacy concerns you may have in writing. We will then attempt to resolve it as per our resolution procedure within 30 days. Please send your complaint to admin@lifetimetherapy.com.au or to:

The practice manager

Life Time Therapy Services

29 Haase Crescent

Ormeau QLD

4208

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 our website

We may use information gathered from social media or our website to help personalise your experience.

Policy review statement

Our policy will be reviewed annually, and patients will be notified of the new policy in the clinic and at their next consultation.