Your Privacy

Collection

We collect information about your medical and family health history to help in providing accurate medical diagnoses and appropriate treatment. This information is generally collected directly from you, for example at your first attendance, or otherwise with your written consent. Much of this goes to make up your Patient Information Printout, a one page summary of your personal health information. Every time you attend Charlton Medical new information is added to your record.

You will be asked to give written consent to this collection of information at your first visit to Charlton Medical or when a teen reaches an age to consent to their own treatment based on the professional judgement of the doctor.

From time to time, we may receive information about you from others, for example from a specialist you have visited. If this occurs we endeavour to notify you that we have received this information.

Primary Use

Your medical information is used mainly for your diagnosis and treatment. All members of your treatment team need access to this information, and from time to time we will share your health information with other health care providers. For example, your Patient Information Printout is included with any referral letters to specialists. We will endeavour to obtain your consent before doing this. Some information is also provided to Medicare for billing and medical rebate purposes.

Dr Webb and other doctors working from time to time at Charlton Medical are members of various medical and professional bodies, including medical defence organisations. There may be occasions when disclosure of your information is necessary for medical defence purposes.

There are also circumstances where a medical practitioner is legally bound to disclose personal information. An example of this is the mandatory reporting of communicable diseases.

Secondary uses

Your health information is also valuable for planning, quality improvement and health care research. All of these benefit the whole community We always review proposed research projects to ensure that they are ethical and that your privacy and confidentiality are protected. If you can be identified by information provided for a research trial we will obtain your consent, in writing, before proceeding. You have a right to withdraw from a trial at any time, without explaining your reasons for doing so.

Patient information may also be used to help us review the care we provide and ensure that we maintain the highest standards and run an efficient service. Wherever possible we remove details that identify you individually when using your information for research or planning.

Storage and disposal

Your health information is securely stored behind locked doors and secure computer systems. Only trusted staff who have signed a confidentiality agreement may access your records.

Your records will be kept for a minimum of seven years after your last attendance at Charlton Medical. In the case of children, information will be stored until they reach 25 years of age before disposal.

Access

You have a right to access any information we hold about you on written request. You may ask to review the information or obtain a copy of part of or the whole record. While you will not be required to give reasons, you may be asked to clarify the scope of the access. There are some circumstances where access may be denied but in such an event you will be advised of the reason. A charge may be payable where the practice incurs costs in providing access. This will depend on the nature of the access.

If you find that information we hold on you is not accurate or complete, you may apply to have that information amended accordingly.

Upon your written request, information about you held by Charlton Medical will be made available to another health service provider.

Parents/guardians and children

Children also have a right to the privacy of their health information, based on the professional judgement of the doctor and consistent with the law. This might, at times, restrict access to this information by parents or guardians.

Complaints

It is important to us that your expectations about the ways that we handle your information are the same as ours. Please do not hesitate to discuss any concerns, questions or complaints about any issues related to the privacy of your personal information with your doctor, or with our Privacy Officer. You may request a Privacy Complaint Form from any of our staff, or alternatively you may complain anonymously here.

If you are still dissatisfied you can complain to the Victorian Health Complaints Commissioner: https://hcc.vic.gov.au/

Further information about your rights can be obtained from the Health Services Commissioner’s Office at:
30th Floor, 570 Bourke Street

Melbourne VIC 3000

Email: hsc@dhs.vic.gov.au