Who we are
Daniel Godel is a Chinese herbal medicine practitioner and acupuncturist registered with AHPRA.
Our website address is: https://danielgodel.com.au.
Our clinic address is 366 Rathdowne Street Carlton North VIC 3054
Introduction
We are bound by the Australian Privacy Principles. These principles set the standards by which we handle personal information collected from our patients, and are based on the Privacy Act 1988, and amendments that came into effect from 2014.
This privacy policy is to provide information to you, our patient, on how your personal health information is collected and used within our practice, and the circumstances in which we may share it with third parties.
Why and when your consent is necessary
When you register as a patient of our practice, you provide consent for the practitioners and practice staff to access and use your personal information so they can provide you with the best possible healthcare.
Only practitioners or staff who need to see your personal information will have access to it. If we need to use your information for anything else, we will seek additional consent from you to do this.
Why do we collect, use, hold and share your personal information?
Our practice will need to collect your personal information to provide healthcare services to you. Our main purpose for collecting, using, holding and sharing your personal information is to manage your health.
What personal information do we collect?
The information we will collect about you includes:
- names, date of birth, address, contact details.
- medical information including medical history, medications, allergies, adverse events, social history, family history and risk factors.
- notes made during the course of the consultation.
- referrals to other health service providers.
- results and reports received from other health service providers.
- Private Health Fund details (if required) for claiming purposes
How do we collect your personal information?
Our practice will collect your personal information:
- your guardian or responsible person
- When you make your first appointment we will collect your personal information via your registration.
- During the course of providing health care services, we may collect further personal information.
- We may also collect your personal information when you send us an email or SMS, telephone us, or make an online appointment.
- In some circumstances personal information may also be collected from other sources. Often this is because it is not practical or reasonable to collect it from you directly. This may include information from:
- your guardian or responsible person
- other involved healthcare professionals.
- your health fund, WorkSafe or Comcare.
Who do we share your personal information with?
We sometimes share your personal information:
- with other healthcare providers
- when it is required or authorised by law (eg court subpoenas)
- when it is necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to a patient’s life, health or safety, or it is impractical to obtain the patient’s consent.
- for the purpose of confidential dispute resolution process
- when there is a statutory requirement to share certain personal information (eg some diseases require mandatory notification)
Only people that need to access your information will be able to do so. Other than in the course of providing health related services or as otherwise described in this policy, our practice will not share personal information with any third party without your consent.
Our practice will not use your personal information for marketing any of our goods or services directly to you without your express consent. If you do consent, you may opt-out at any time by notifying our practice in writing.
How do we store and protect your personal information?
We are committed to preserving the confidentiality of the information contained in your health records and strict secure storage policies are observed in this practice. Your personal information is stored securely as paper records in locked filing cabinets. We do not keep electronic patient records at this practice.
Your health records are handled with the utmost respect for your privacy. The file will be accessed by your practitioner, and if necessary, in the absence of your usual practitioner, by another practitioner in the practice. It may also be necessary for our staff to handle your file from time to time to address the administrative requirements of running the practice. Our staff members are bound by strict confidentiality requirements as a condition of employment and these requirements will be observed if it is necessary for them to view your records.
How can you access and correct your personal information at our practice?
You have the right to request access to your personal information held in this practice.
Our practice acknowledges patients may request access to their health records. We require you to put this request in writing and we will respond within a reasonable time. If there is considerable time involved in complying with the request, a basic fee may be charged.
Our practice will take reasonable steps to correct your personal information where the information is not accurate or up-to-date. From time-to-time, we will ask you to verify your personal information held by our practice to ensure it is correct and up-to-date. You may also request that we correct or update your information at any time.
How can you lodge a privacy related complaint, and how will the complaint be handled at our practice?
Should you, at any time, have a query or complaint in relation to the privacy policies in place at this practice please contact your practitioner who will discuss any concerns you may have. We take complaints and concerns regarding privacy seriously. You should express any privacy concerns you may have in writing. We will then attempt to resolve it within a reasonable time frame.
You may also contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). Generally the OAIC will require you to give them time to respond, before they will investigate. For further information visit www.oaic.gov.au or call the OAIC on 1300 363992.
Privacy and email communication?
If you choose to communicate via email, this practice will not collect your personal information that occurs through interaction via our website or through the use of website analytics, cookies, etc.
I consent for my practitioner/s to access and use my personal information while providing health related services in this practice, and understand that the practitioner is bound by the Australian Privacy Principles (Privacy Act 1988) and amendments 2014.