The bottom line

I take your privacy seriously.

 

How I collect, use, hold and disclose your personal and sensitive information is governed by the Commonwealth Privacy Act (1988) and the Australian Privacy Principles. Personal information means information which could identify you. Sensitive information is a subset of personal information, and reveals things about you such as opinions, preferences, affiliations, and health information. 

 

I have to handle your personal and sensitive information in accordance with the law, whether or not the information I have is true, or whether I have kept a record of it.

 

 

Why do I collect personal and sensitive information?

I must collect, use, hold, and disclose personal and sensitive information in order to provide you with a service. Your information is needed, for example, to book an appointment with you, communicate with you and your other health providers, comply with regulatory requirements in providing you with a health service, and for invoicing and billing purposes. 

 

 

What sensitive or personal information might I collect or hold?

I will only seek information necessary to undertake the service I might provide to you. Examples of information I might seek to collect and hold about you include:

 

• Your name and date of birth

• Your contact details, including residential address, telephone number and email address

• Your Medicare number 

• Details of your referring doctor

• Your WorkCover or Transport Accident Commission (TAC) claim details and case manager

• Details of other practitioners you see or have seen, and the treatment they have provided

• Detailed information you choose to share with me about your mental health concern, physical health and medications.

 

Please discuss with me if you have any concerns about providing me with, or giving me consent to obtain, information about you. Often there is a workaround, and if not, knowing the reason why information is required can help you decide whether or not my service is for you.

 

 

How do I collect information?

I collect most information directly from you. For example, I will collect information when you seek an appointment or discovery call with me, and during a consultation with me. I collect this information in person, over the phone, via telehealth, or electronically via any emails you send me or from the contact form on my website.

 

I also collect information from other people or organisations. For example, if your general practitioner sends me a referral about you, or if a third party payer (for example, WorkCover) communicate with me. 

 

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How do I hold your information?

I run a paper-free office.

 

Your information is held in an Australian electronic practice management and medical record system called Halaxy (ABN 38 633 220 612). I use this to manage appointments, write and hold medical records, store information sent to me by other health practitioners or services, generate prescriptions, communicate with your general practitioner or other health practitioners, generate invoices and assist you to access Medicare rebates, and invoice third party payers (for example, WorkSafe Victoria).

 

Any notes I may make on paper or paper substitute (for example, on an electronic device such as a ReMarkable) are securely disposed of at the end of each day. Paper documents you give me, for example referrals, are scanned and uploaded into your electronic record, and the original securely disposed of. Information sent to me via email (either directly, or as contact form information forwarded by my website host, Wix) is attached to your electronic record in Halaxy, and the original email is deleted at the end of the day.

 

I am the only person who can legitimately access your Halaxy record, my secure messaging address (on Argus), my business telephone (0456 652 225), email (drdebrawood@gestaltpsychiatry.au), and website (www.gestaltpsychiatry.au).

 

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Who might I disclose your information to, and why?

Some of your personal information may be disclosed to third parties in order to perform services on your or my behalf. Examples include my practice management system (Halaxy), Halaxy’s integrated electronic prescribing software (eRx, ABN 62 132 884 658, a subsidiary of Telstra Health), my telehealth platform (Zoom US), systems to facilitate payments or rebates (including Medicare, HiCAPS ABN 11 080 688 866, and Square ABN 38 167 106 176), and my Halaxy-integrated accounting software (Quickbooks, ABN 28 163 072 704),

 

I will only disclose your sensitive information:

• When, and for the purposes for which, you have provided consent, for example, to speak with your partner

• When, and for the purposes for which, you would reasonably expect your information to be disclosed, for example, to update your general practitioner 

• In response to a court subpoena, or where the disclosure is authorised and required by law

• If failure to disclose the information would place you or another person at imminent risk of serious harm

• Where clinical consultation is required to provide you with better services. In most cases I will keep your personal information confidential so that you cannot be identified.

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Your right of access to, and to correct, your information

You have a right to access and correct your personal and sensitive information, and you are welcome to raise this with me during a consultation. Seeing your notes can be very emotional, and I hope to support you in this process. You are welcome to view your record during a session, and can ask me to correct any inaccuracies, or make an addendum to your record about aspects I am unable to change.

 

If you want copies of some or all of your record, please make a request for this in writing. I will need to review your record in case I need to remove details of any third party. Preparation of this copy is at my usual hourly rate and will be completed within a reasonable time frame up to 45 days. 

 

Please talk with me about any concerns you may have about the management of your personal information, or write to me if you would like a more formal response. If this does not resolve your concerns, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001; tel. 1300 363 992).

 

 

 

This privacy policy applies to Dr Debra Wood / GestaltPsychiatry (ABN 30 082 336 125). Last updated 29 September 2024.

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