Privacy.
1. Your personal information is important to us
At Priority Paediatrics, we recognise that your privacy and your child’s privacy are important. Providing personal and health information involves trust, and we take our responsibility to protect that information seriously.
We are committed to managing personal information securely, respectfully and in accordance with applicable Australian privacy laws.
2. Privacy Statement
This Privacy Statement explains how Priority Paediatrics collects, holds, uses, discloses and protects personal information, including health information. It also explains how you can access or request correction of the personal information we hold about you or your child.
Priority Paediatrics manages personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). Private health service providers that hold health information are covered by the Privacy Act.
Where there is any inconsistency between this Privacy Statement and applicable privacy legislation, the legislation will prevail.
3. Definitions
Personal information is information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable.
Sensitive information is a category of personal information that includes information about an individual’s health, racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, sexual orientation and certain other personal matters. Health information receives additional protection under the Privacy Act.
Health information includes information or opinions about an individual’s health, disability or health services provided or to be provided to them.
4. Collection of personal information
Priority Paediatrics collects personal and health information that is reasonably necessary for us to provide healthcare and related services.
Where practicable, we collect information directly from you, your child, or your child’s parent or legal guardian. We may also collect information from other healthcare providers and authorised sources where appropriate.
The information we collect may include:
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Your child’s full name, date of birth, address, gender and Medicare details.
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Parent, guardian or caregiver names and contact details.
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Postal address, email address and telephone numbers.
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Your preferred method of communication.
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Medical and developmental history.
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Current and previous medications.
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Pathology and diagnostic imaging reports.
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Specialist, allied health and hospital reports.
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School, childcare or educational reports where relevant to your child’s assessment.
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Details of your child’s General Practitioner, referring practitioner and other healthcare providers.
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Other information reasonably necessary to provide care to your child.
Health information is considered sensitive information, and additional privacy protections apply to its collection and handling.
Where we receive unsolicited personal information that we are not permitted or required to retain, we will take reasonable steps to securely destroy or de-identify it where appropriate.
We will take reasonable steps to inform you about why information is being collected, how it may be used and disclosed, and any other information required under applicable privacy laws.
5. Use and disclosure of personal information
We primarily use personal and health information for the purpose for which it was collected — to provide safe and appropriate healthcare to your child.
Information may be made available to doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and authorised administrative staff working with or providing services through Priority Paediatrics where this is necessary for the provision and administration of your child’s care.
Where appropriate and permitted by law, information may also be shared with healthcare professionals involved in your child’s care, including:
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General Practitioners.Specialist doctors.
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Allied health professionals.
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Pathology providers.
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Radiology and diagnostic imaging providers.
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Hospitals and health services.
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Pharmacies and other relevant healthcare providers.
Australian privacy law generally permits information to be used for the purpose for which it was collected and, in certain circumstances, for a related secondary purpose or where another legal exception applies.
With appropriate authority and where permitted by law, Priority Paediatrics may also collect relevant information from other healthcare providers and systems involved in your child’s care, including My Health Record. Access to information within My Health Record is also subject to the individual’s access controls and applicable legislation.
Personal information may also be used or disclosed:
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To respond to enquiries and requests.
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For billing and administrative purposes.
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To process Medicare claims and meet Medicare requirements.
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Where required or authorised by law.
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Where necessary to prevent or lessen a serious threat to an individual’s life, health or safety, where permitted by law.
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For other purposes with your consent.
We will not disclose personal information to overseas recipients except where necessary and in accordance with applicable privacy requirements. Where an organisation discloses personal information overseas, specific obligations under APP 8 may apply.
6. Storage and security of personal information
Priority Paediatrics takes reasonable steps to protect personal and health information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.
Electronic medical records are stored using secure systems. Where paper documents are received, they may be securely destroyed once they have been appropriately incorporated into the relevant electronic medical record, where legally permitted.
Our employees, medical practitioners, allied health professionals and other authorised personnel are required to maintain the confidentiality of personal and health information.
We may use secure cloud-based systems to store or process information. Where practicable, we seek to use systems that store information within Australia. Where information may be disclosed to an overseas recipient, applicable Australian privacy requirements will be followed.
Personal and health information will be retained for as long as required for clinical, administrative and legal purposes and will then be securely destroyed or de-identified where appropriate.
7. Access to personal information
You have a general right to request access to personal information that we hold about you or your child, subject to applicable legal requirements and exceptions.
If you would like to request access to personal or health information, please contact Priority Paediatrics using the contact details below.
We will respond to requests within a reasonable period. Before releasing information, we may require appropriate identification and confirmation of your authority to access the information, particularly where the information relates to a child.
In some circumstances, the Privacy Act permits us to refuse access to some or all of the requested information. If we are unable to provide access, we will explain the reason where required by law and advise you of any available options.
A reasonable administrative fee may apply in some circumstances where permitted by law. We will advise you of any applicable fee before proceeding.
8. Correction of personal information
We take reasonable steps to ensure that the personal information we hold is accurate, complete, relevant and up to date.
If you believe that information we hold about you or your child is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading, please contact us and request a correction.
We will consider and respond to correction requests within a reasonable period in accordance with applicable privacy requirements.
9. Privacy enquiries and complaints
If you have a question, concern or complaint about how Priority Paediatrics collects, stores, uses or discloses personal information, please contact us using the details below.
We take privacy concerns seriously. Complaints will be reviewed and, where appropriate, investigated to ensure that our practices continue to comply with applicable privacy requirements.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may be entitled to make a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).
10. Changes to this Privacy Statement
We may review and update this Privacy Statement from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology or legal obligations.
The most current version will be published on the Priority Paediatrics website and will take effect from the date it is published.
11. Further Information
For further information about privacy in Australia, including your rights under the Privacy Act and Australian Privacy Principles, please visit the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) website.