Protecting Privacy Throughout the Practive Information Life Cycle

Information Comes From:

• Individual (you)

• Referring GP (and staff)

• Responsible person

• Other Health Services Providers including hospitals, clinics, other GP's, pathology, radiology

• Internal records

• Insurers and institutions

• Government Instrumentalities including Dept of Veteran's Affairs

• Physiotherapists

• Midwives

• Other Specialists

Collecting Information:

This is a specialist medical service.

NPP 1 - Collection

Information is collected to:

• Take a medical history and record examination findings

• Make a diagnosis and interpret results

• Ensure appropriate testing

• Link  medical reports to individuals and their health care providers

• Seek confirmation or to fulfill testing requirements from third parties where appropriate

• Have available for future reference in determining trends or significant changes and practice outcomes

• Allow billing and payments

•  Fulfill regulatory and public health requirements

• Assure quality and improve processes

NPP 10 - Sensitive Information

Sensitive information is collected, stored, used and accessed with due regard for privacy in accordance with the National Privacy Principles.:

• An individual can choose to suppress some information and to limit the transfer of reports to specified parties

• In some circumstances, responsible persons can give consent for individuals

NPP 8 - Anonymity

An individual may have a test anonymously but this can be dangerous. An individual choosing to do this muct be aware of the potential consequences including that:

• Diagnosis and advice may be seriously impaired with consequent adverse medical outcomes

• There may be a mismatching of the individual's results

• There muct be an acceptance that there is a consequent limitation to the liability of the medical practice

• It may result in breakdown in good public health practice

• It cannot be claimed under Medicare

Storage & Maintenance

NPP 3 - Data Quality

• Every effort is made to keep an individual's information accurate, up to date and complete

• You are entitled to see your records and change them to improve the accuracyy of the information

NPP 4 - Data Security

• Medical information has restricted access and changes are tracked

Access (by the individual)

NPP 6 - Acccess and Correction

• The preferred way to get your medical records is in consultation with your doctor, where the information can be explained in the context of your health management with Dr Morrow

• Individuals do, however, have the right to access their medical records

• A written request is required and, depending on how old the information is, there may be a charge

• To protect your privacy, individuals may require positive identification

Use of Information & Disclosure

Use of information within the practice and disclosure to third parties

NPP 2 - Use and Disclosure and NPP 9 - Transborder Data Flows

• Information is used within the practice for managing your care and advice reporting back to your GP

• In the routine medical process, health information may be disclosed to another provider for the purposes of getting a second opinion

• Information is used for billing

NPP 7 - Identifiers

• Government identifiers are used wherever necessary for billing

• Any identity information may be used by the practice to ensure that an individual and their results are linked in confidence.