Doctors at Sunnybank Hills is committed to maintaining patient privacy. We outline below how we respect your privacy and ensure your information remains confidential.
Information Collected
As a patient at Doctors at Sunnybank Hills, a medical record will be made that contains your:
- Name
- Address and contact details
- History (personal and family)
- Problem, proposed treatment and treatment given
If you return to Doctors at Sunnybank Hills as a patient, new information will be added each time to your medical record. By law, we are required to hold your medical record for at least 7 years after your last visit. For children, we must hold the medical record for 25 years after the last visit. Medical records at Doctors at Sunnybank Hills are destroyed via shredding.
Why does this information need to be collected?
Health Professionals use your information to plan and provide appropriate treatment. Your medical history assists with quick identification of treatments that are likely to be safe and effective for you. Health information may also be used for reviewing, evaluating and improving care and services. In this situation, so that you cannot be identified, your personal details are removed.
Information Protection
Your medical record is securely stored and is accessible only to those health professionals involved in your care. This may include external services such as pathology. Staff at Doctors at Sunnybank Hills comply with strict confidentiality codes of conduct.
Who may receive your information?
Following treatment at Doctors at Sunnybank Hills, information may be sent back to your referring GP and / or any other health professionals / service as agreed by you.
In an emergency, Doctors at Sunnybank Hills will release information about you to facilitate your care. In all other circumstances, your written consent will be sought prior to releasing information. However, by law, Doctors at Sunnybank Hills may be obliged to release your information in the following circumstances:
- Reporting to the State Health Department on basic information such as age, gender, suburb of residence etc. with no name details provided
- Reporting of notifiable diseases to the State Health Department or the State Cancer Registry
- Reporting to Health Funds to provide evidence of treatment
- Subpoena of your medical record as evidence in court (in the case of legal action)
- Notification to our third-party indemnity insurers in circumstances which may give rise to a claim
Information Access
You can request access to your own medical record. You need to apply in writing to the Practice Manager.
If you believe any information within your record is incorrect or you do not agree with, you have the right to request correction.
Information contained in this brochure is in accordance with:
- Privacy Act 1988: Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2012 (Commonwealth)
Further information about these acts can be accessed via www.privacy.gov.au
At Doctors at Sunnybank Hills, we ensure that:
- You always receive courteous treatment
- Staff are considerate of your beliefs, ethnic, cultural and religious practices
You may:
- Discharge yourself at any time despite the advice of the attending health care practitioner / staff of Doctors at Sunnybank Hills
- Provide feedback to our Practice Manager about the quality of care / treatment