General privacy

Green Square Dermatology is committed to protecting patient privacy and managing personal and health information in accordance with applicable Australian and New South Wales privacy laws.

This includes the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles, and the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (NSW) and its Health Privacy Principles.

Green Square Dermatology may collect and hold personal and health information including:

• name, address, date of birth and contact details;

• Medicare and other identifying information;

• medical history, medications and allergies;

• referral, pathology and investigation information;

• clinical notes, correspondence and treatment records;

• photographs and other clinical images; and

• billing, payment and administrative information.

Personal and health information will generally be collected directly from the patient.

Information may also be collected from a parent, guardian or other person responsible for the patient, referring practitioners, other health service providers, Medicare, insurers or other third parties where authorised by the patient or permitted or required by law.

Green Square Dermatology will only collect information reasonably necessary for the provision and administration of health services and related functions.

Patient information may be used or disclosed where reasonably necessary for purposes including:

• providing, coordinating and managing health services;

• communicating with patients and other health practitioners involved in their care;

• arranging referrals, investigations, treatment and follow-up;

• billing, Medicare claiming, account management and other administrative functions;

• complying with legal, regulatory and professional obligations; and

• other purposes authorised by the patient or permitted or required by law.

Health information will not be used or disclosed for an unrelated purpose unless authorised by the patient or otherwise permitted or required by law.

Green Square Dermatology may disclose personal or health information to an overseas recipient where this is necessary for the provision or coordination of a patient’s care, authorised by the patient, or otherwise permitted or required by law.

Where personal information is disclosed to an overseas recipient, Green Square Dermatology will comply with applicable cross-border disclosure requirements under Australian privacy law.

Patients may request access to, or correction of, personal and health information held about them, subject to any limitations permitted by law.

Requests for access to medical records are managed in accordance with Green Square Dermatology’s medical record access policy. Patients may be required to complete an MR1 Accessing Your Medical Record form.

Where a fee applies for providing access or copies, the patient will be advised of the applicable cost before the request is processed.

Green Square Dermatology takes reasonable steps to protect personal and health information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification and disclosure.

Staff and other authorised persons with access to patient information are required to maintain confidentiality and comply with applicable privacy and information-handling requirements.

A patient who has a question or complaint concerning the handling of their personal or health information may contact the Green Square Dermatology Privacy Officer.

Complaints should be submitted in writing to: privacy@gsdermatology.com.au

Privacy complaints will be reviewed and investigated as appropriate. The patient will be advised of the outcome as soon as reasonably practicable following completion of the review.

Green Square Dermatology may review and amend this policy from time to time to reflect changes in law, regulatory requirements, technology or practice operations.

The current version of this policy is available through the Green Square Dermatology website.