PART 1 – ABOUT THIS POLICY
1.1 Purpose
Glenda Browne Speech Pathology (GBSP) is committed to the privacy of personal information we collect and hold about individuals.
GBSP complies with the Australian Privacy principles (APPs) under the Privacy Act 1988, other privacy laws that govern how private sector health service providers handle your personal information and Speech Pathology Australia Code of Ethics (2010).
The Privacy Policy explains how GBSP manages the personal information we collect, use and disclose.
GBSP is a private speech pathology practice under the ownership of Glenda Browne.
PART 2- HOW GBSP HANDLES YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
2.1 GBSP Legal Obligations
In order to provide you with the health care services that you have requested, GBSP will need to collect and use your personal information. If you provide incomplete or inaccurate information to us or with hold personal and health information from us we may not be able to provide you with the services you are seeking.
2.2 What information does GBSP collect?
We will only collect the information we need for the particular function or activity we are carrying out.
We collect information from you that is necessary to provide you with speech pathology services and to manage our relationship with you. The information we collect includes: name, date of birth, health fund information or third party funding details and information about health and family history. We require this information to help the speech pathologist to assess, diagnose and provide intervention.
2.3 How does GBSP collect the information we need?
We will usually collect health information directly from the client or family/carer. Sometimes we may need to collect information from a third party (eg other relative or another health service provider – however we would not do this without your written consent.
2.4 How does GBSP use this information?
GBSP uses this information for the purpose that the client or carer has given the information to us. We will use the information to provide speech pathology services to the child, to manage our relationship with the child and carer. We may also use this information for other purposes under the Privacy Act 1988.
We may disclose this information to the following people:
· Other health professionals involved in the care of the child. This may include another speech pathologist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, psychologist, paediatrician, GP, teacher. We may disclose this information to these professionals as part of the process of providing care to the child and carers.
· The referrer – GBSP will usually send a summary/report after the initial assessment is completed and at other times as required.
If you do not wish us to provide a report/summary to the referrer, you must let us know.
Also if the referrer’s details have changed, please advise us.
· Relatives, guardian, close friends and legal representative – We may provide information to such persons unless carer tells us that they do not wish to disclose this information to any such person.
Other uses and disclosures
In order to provide the best possible environment for our services, we may need to disclose parts of the personal and health information where necessary for:
· Activities such as quality assurance, audits, risk and claims management, client satisfaction surveys and staff education and training
· Invoicing, billing and account management
· Liaison with health fund, Medicare, NDIS, FaCS and other third party funding bodies to verify services provided
· The purpose of sending standard reminders by phone call, text message, email or mail
Please note that unless specific consent is given personal and health details will not be given for research.
We will not disclose any information to any individual who is outside Australia.
2.5 Access to and correction of your health information
Clients and carers have the right to access the personal and health information we hold. You can also request an amendment to this personal and health information if it is deemed as inaccurate.
If we do not agree to change the medical record/personal information in accordance with your request, we will permit a statement of the requested changes to be written and included with the records.
If you need to obtain access to or request changes to the personal information, you should contact the Practice Principal (see below)
Please note that GBSP may recover reasonable costs associated with supplying this information to you.
2.6 Data Quality
GBSP will take reasonable steps to ensure that this personal information which we may collect, use, disclose is accurate, complete and up to date.
2.7 Data Security
GBSP will take reasonable steps to protect the personal information from misuse, interference, loss unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. We have technologies and processes such as access control guidelines, encryption, network firewalls and physical security to protect your privacy.
GBSP will destroy or permanently de-mystify any information which is in it’s possession or control which is no longer required for intervention or required under an Australian law.
2.8 What to do if you have a questions, comments or complaint about privacy issues
Please contact the practice owner , Glenda Browne, via:
Telephone: 02 98248761
Email:glendabrownespeech@gmail.com
Letter: Glenda Browne, Glenda Browne Speech Pathology
138 Thunderbolt Dr Raby NSW 2566