Bayside Optical Privacy Policy
Bayside Optical is committed to protecting and preserving the privacy rights of our patients.
Bayside Optical collects information from our patients in the course of providing optometry services and products.
Bayside Optical is bound by the Federal Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles. This policy sets out how Bayside Optical treats personal information of our patients. It is available to all members, and the public, free of charge and further information on our information handling processes are available on request.
Collection
Bayside Optical collects and uses personal information of patients to provide eye care and related health care needs. The specific uses to which Bayside Optical puts patients’ personal information include to treat, coordinate and implement care plans for the treatment of eye care or related health care needs. Generally speaking, most personal information is collected from the patient.
The type of information Bayside Optical collects about a patient includes:
At the time of the appointment: name and contact details to make the appointment.
At the time of the consultation: Patient’s name, address, date of birth, email address, gender, spoken languages, occupation and/or details of recreational activities, eye disease history including family eye disease history. The information collected will be relevant to the clinical needs of the patient.
At times patient information is acquired through a third party, such as Medicare, Department of Veterans Affairs or a health fund. This information only relates to eligibility for services provided by those bodies, and is not used except in office, for third party billing procedures.
Use and Disclosure of information
Bayside Optical will use personal information to provide an eye care related services or product.
Bayside Optical may disclose personal information about patients to third parties for the purpose for which that information was collected and also for related purposes that could reasonably be expected by the patient.
Clinically relevant patient information may be shared with other relevant health care practitioners for example, a referral to an ophthalmologist or General Practitioner with the patients consent.
Patient information may also be used to contact the patient to inform them about the need for a check-up or practice change or relocation. A patient may elect not to be contacted in this matter if they so wish.
Information may also be required to be released to courts, tribunals or regulatory authorities as agreed or authorised by law. In most cases this will require a court to order the release of the information, although information may also be released when the optometrist believes that this is necessary to prevent a serious and imminent threat to a person’s life, health or safety, or to public health and safety.
Some information, such as the patient’s identity and the type of consultation provided, may be released in order to allow Medicare benefits to be claimed. Commonwealth legislation also allows records to be inspected by representatives of the Medicare Australia in order to investigate whether Medicare benefits have been paid appropriately.
Bayside Optical is very unlikely to disclose personal information to an overseas recipient with the exception of such matters that arise in the course of providing eye care with the consent of the patient. An example would be the purchase of a specialty optical appliance for a patient that is unavailable in Australia.
Data quality
Bayside Optical will take reasonable steps to ensure that the personal information we collect from patients is accurate, complete, and up to date.
When a patient informs the Practice of any inaccuracy, it will be corrected as soon as possible.
Data Security
Bayside Optical will take all reasonable steps to ensure that the information we hold about a patient is protected from misuse, loss and unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure.
Record cards are kept for each patient. The only people who have access to patient records are the optometrists involved in the care of the patient, and practice staff, who need access for purposes such as optical dispensing and billing. No unauthorised persons are permitted to access the records.
Practice staff are bound by confidentiality clauses in the terms of their employment.
Practice will also take reasonable steps to destroy information held about a patient once that information is no longer required, is not contained in a public record or the Practice is required to maintain under an Australia Law or court order. Minimum time for retaining records is 7 years from the date of the last entry or until the patient turns 25.
Access to and correction of personal information
Patients may request access to, and ask Bayside Optical to make corrections to, the personal information that Bayside Optical holds about them.
Bayside Optical will, on request, provide a patient with access to his or her personal information, unless there is an exception which applies under relevant privacy laws. If we refuse to provide access to the information, we will provide reasons for the refusal and inform the patient of any exceptions relied upon.
A concise summary report containing relevant health history, eye health issues, treatment and optical appliances will be prepared to facilitate continuity of care. Alternatively a suitable time can be arranged for a viewing of complete records, with an optometrist available to interpret the information, or explain any terms used. A fee will be charged for this service. A response to a question for access must be provided within a reasonable time (45 days NSW).
Under some circumstances, Bayside Optical may refuse to provide access to the information held about a patient. This will only occur where releasing the information would pose a serious threat to the health of the patient or another person, would unreasonably impact on the privacy of another person, would interfere in legal investigations or other proceedings, or would otherwise be illegal.
The physical/electronic record and the intellectual property contained in it remain the property of the optometrist and/or the practice at all times.
Identifiers
Bayside Optical will not adopt, use, or disclose any identifier assigned to a member by a government agency, except where required by law. Medicare numbers will only be used for the purposes of claiming Medicare benefits.
Anonymity
It is a patient’s right to be dealt with anonymously, provided that it is lawful and practicable. Bayside Optical will try to accommodate this wherever possible. However, it may not be possible for the Practice to provide optimal services without access to a patient’s personal information.
Trans-border data flows
Bayside Optical will not transfer data about the patient to a recipient in a foreign country unless the data will receive at least the same level of protection as in Australia, unless the patient gives their permission for the practice to do so.
Sensitive information
Bayside Optical will not collect sensitive information about the patient without the patient’s consent, except where collecting such information is required by law, or where the patient (or their representative) cannot give consent and the information is needed to provide a health service to the patient or to reduce a threat to the life or health of another person.
‘Sensitive information’ is defined as information about a person’s health, their racial or ethnic origin,
their political, religious, or philosophical beliefs and affiliations, their membership in professional or
trade associations or unions, their sexual preferences or practices, or their criminal record.
Requests, Complaints or Questions
If a patient wishes to gain access to his or her personal information, make a complaint about a breach
of his or her privacy or have any questions on how his or her personal information is collected or used, the patient can forward his or her request, complaint, or question to the address below:
Bayside Optical Management
Shop26/5 Burton St, Vincentia NSW 2540
Bayside Optical will respond to a patient’s request, complaint, or question within a reasonable time (45 days in NSW). Patients may also make a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) about the handling of their personal information as covered by the Privacy Act.
Information on how to make a complaint to the OAIC can be found at www.oaic.gov.au or 1300 363 992.
Bayside Optical is committed to protecting and preserving the privacy rights of our patients.
Bayside Optical collects information from our patients in the course of providing optometry services and products.
Bayside Optical is bound by the Federal Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles. This policy sets out how Bayside Optical treats personal information of our patients. It is available to all members, and the public, free of charge and further information on our information handling processes are available on request.
Collection
Bayside Optical collects and uses personal information of patients to provide eye care and related health care needs. The specific uses to which Bayside Optical puts patients’ personal information include to treat, coordinate and implement care plans for the treatment of eye care or related health care needs. Generally speaking, most personal information is collected from the patient.
The type of information Bayside Optical collects about a patient includes:
At the time of the appointment: name and contact details to make the appointment.
At the time of the consultation: Patient’s name, address, date of birth, email address, gender, spoken languages, occupation and/or details of recreational activities, eye disease history including family eye disease history. The information collected will be relevant to the clinical needs of the patient.
At times patient information is acquired through a third party, such as Medicare, Department of Veterans Affairs or a health fund. This information only relates to eligibility for services provided by those bodies, and is not used except in office, for third party billing procedures.
Use and Disclosure of information
Bayside Optical will use personal information to provide an eye care related services or product.
Bayside Optical may disclose personal information about patients to third parties for the purpose for which that information was collected and also for related purposes that could reasonably be expected by the patient.
Clinically relevant patient information may be shared with other relevant health care practitioners for example, a referral to an ophthalmologist or General Practitioner with the patients consent.
Patient information may also be used to contact the patient to inform them about the need for a check-up or practice change or relocation. A patient may elect not to be contacted in this matter if they so wish.
Information may also be required to be released to courts, tribunals or regulatory authorities as agreed or authorised by law. In most cases this will require a court to order the release of the information, although information may also be released when the optometrist believes that this is necessary to prevent a serious and imminent threat to a person’s life, health or safety, or to public health and safety.
Some information, such as the patient’s identity and the type of consultation provided, may be released in order to allow Medicare benefits to be claimed. Commonwealth legislation also allows records to be inspected by representatives of the Medicare Australia in order to investigate whether Medicare benefits have been paid appropriately.
Bayside Optical is very unlikely to disclose personal information to an overseas recipient with the exception of such matters that arise in the course of providing eye care with the consent of the patient. An example would be the purchase of a specialty optical appliance for a patient that is unavailable in Australia.
Data quality
Bayside Optical will take reasonable steps to ensure that the personal information we collect from patients is accurate, complete, and up to date.
When a patient informs the Practice of any inaccuracy, it will be corrected as soon as possible.
Data Security
Bayside Optical will take all reasonable steps to ensure that the information we hold about a patient is protected from misuse, loss and unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure.
Record cards are kept for each patient. The only people who have access to patient records are the optometrists involved in the care of the patient, and practice staff, who need access for purposes such as optical dispensing and billing. No unauthorised persons are permitted to access the records.
Practice staff are bound by confidentiality clauses in the terms of their employment.
Practice will also take reasonable steps to destroy information held about a patient once that information is no longer required, is not contained in a public record or the Practice is required to maintain under an Australia Law or court order. Minimum time for retaining records is 7 years from the date of the last entry or until the patient turns 25.
Access to and correction of personal information
Patients may request access to, and ask Bayside Optical to make corrections to, the personal information that Bayside Optical holds about them.
Bayside Optical will, on request, provide a patient with access to his or her personal information, unless there is an exception which applies under relevant privacy laws. If we refuse to provide access to the information, we will provide reasons for the refusal and inform the patient of any exceptions relied upon.
A concise summary report containing relevant health history, eye health issues, treatment and optical appliances will be prepared to facilitate continuity of care. Alternatively a suitable time can be arranged for a viewing of complete records, with an optometrist available to interpret the information, or explain any terms used. A fee will be charged for this service. A response to a question for access must be provided within a reasonable time (45 days NSW).
Under some circumstances, Bayside Optical may refuse to provide access to the information held about a patient. This will only occur where releasing the information would pose a serious threat to the health of the patient or another person, would unreasonably impact on the privacy of another person, would interfere in legal investigations or other proceedings, or would otherwise be illegal.
The physical/electronic record and the intellectual property contained in it remain the property of the optometrist and/or the practice at all times.
Identifiers
Bayside Optical will not adopt, use, or disclose any identifier assigned to a member by a government agency, except where required by law. Medicare numbers will only be used for the purposes of claiming Medicare benefits.
Anonymity
It is a patient’s right to be dealt with anonymously, provided that it is lawful and practicable. Bayside Optical will try to accommodate this wherever possible. However, it may not be possible for the Practice to provide optimal services without access to a patient’s personal information.
Trans-border data flows
Bayside Optical will not transfer data about the patient to a recipient in a foreign country unless the data will receive at least the same level of protection as in Australia, unless the patient gives their permission for the practice to do so.
Sensitive information
Bayside Optical will not collect sensitive information about the patient without the patient’s consent, except where collecting such information is required by law, or where the patient (or their representative) cannot give consent and the information is needed to provide a health service to the patient or to reduce a threat to the life or health of another person.
‘Sensitive information’ is defined as information about a person’s health, their racial or ethnic origin,
their political, religious, or philosophical beliefs and affiliations, their membership in professional or
trade associations or unions, their sexual preferences or practices, or their criminal record.
Requests, Complaints or Questions
If a patient wishes to gain access to his or her personal information, make a complaint about a breach
of his or her privacy or have any questions on how his or her personal information is collected or used, the patient can forward his or her request, complaint, or question to the address below:
Bayside Optical Management
Shop26/5 Burton St, Vincentia NSW 2540
Bayside Optical will respond to a patient’s request, complaint, or question within a reasonable time (45 days in NSW). Patients may also make a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) about the handling of their personal information as covered by the Privacy Act.
Information on how to make a complaint to the OAIC can be found at www.oaic.gov.au or 1300 363 992.
Photo used under Creative Commons from insEyedout
