ACURIO Health Group is committed to its ongoing compliance with the Privacy Act 1988, Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act 2012, Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (NSW), Privacy Regulation 2013 and the Australian Privacy Principles relating to the handling of personal and health information that it collects and holds. It has procedures in place to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.
Our privacy obligations relating to your personal and health information are detailed below. Should you have any question relating to the collection or use of your personal information while in our care, please contact the relevant facility listed below.
To assist us in your care, we may require the following information:
Name
Date of birth
Address (residential, postal and electronic)
Telephone Numbers
Gender
Marital status
Occupation
Religious beliefs or affiliations
Country of birth
Indigenous status
Language spoken
Health Fund Membership
Medicare, Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Concession card details and other healthcare identifiers
Workers’ compensation or other insurance claim details
Details of family, next of kin, escort or carer and emergency contact details
Medical History
Details of any physical examination, investigations and results
Details of previous treatments and operations
Relevant family medical history
Details of allergies, sensitivities and adverse reactions to drugs
Other Health Information
Names of General Practitioner and/or other doctors past or present involved in your care
Name of referring practitioner
Accounting Transaction details associated with our services
Additional information provided to us by the patient
Information provided through patient questionnaires and surveys
We will only collect your personal information if we have a lawful reason to do so such as a legal duty, if we have your consent or when it in our legitimate interest to do so.
Your information is used by those involved in your care and treatment and reasons may include the following to:
Assess and provide patients with appropriate services and education relating to their medical treatment and care
Assist with any calls relating to enquiries, emergency, follow up
Plan, budget, fund and strive for ongoing improvement with our internal administration procedures
Process private health insurance claims, billing and debt recovery
Provide information and to assist other medical, nursing and allied health professionals who provide necessary follow up treatment and ongoing care
Participate in Benchmarking and Clinical Indicator programs to enable us to assess our level of service when compared to other hospitals in a de identified format
Provide data in both identified and de identified form to State and Commonwealth Departments and Agencies in compliance with relevant legislation
Provide training and ongoing education in a de-identified format
Comply with Third Party Bodies bound by us in agreement to the Privacy Principles. These bodies audit our facility for compliance to Australian Standards, Codes and Legislation, NSQHSS for the purposes of accreditation
Assist specialist Sub Contractors and Consultants bound by the Privacy Principles who assist us in the management of our facility
Address liability indemnity arrangement with insurers, legal representatives and medical defence organisations
Use information for a secondary purpose that is directly related with consent of the patient or within reasonable expectations
Customer service management
Surveys and general research
Training and events
Business relationship management
ACURIO Health Group endeavours to ensure that the personal information collected is accurate, complete, up to date. If your personal information is out or date or inaccurate please contact us so we can update your information. If we are not provided with accurate or complete information when requested, then this may result in you not being provided with the correct and required standard of care.
Information about you is securely stored in either hard copy or electronic form, including cloud based systems. We keep personal and heath information secure from unauthorised access, use or loss. We maintain strict policies on who has authority to access and receive your personal information and all employees are bound by a formal agreement on privacy and confidentiality. We utilise document storage security and each employee has their own unique password for access. We educate and monitor staff to ensure information is handled confidentially, with respect and care at all times.
It may be necessary for us to share your information outside our facilities so you can obtain the care and help you need. For example, we may provide information about you to:
Other health services, hospitals or specialists involved in your care (eg. your General Practitioner, Optometrist or Paediatrician)
Local district health facilities responsible for health, aged care and disability to assist them to provide health services to you
Government departments – if you receive healthcare services through Department of Veterans Affairs or Defence Force.
Other organisations who have a contract with Acurio to provide certain services, such as accreditation, audits or survey processes
Research institutions or sponsors working in collaboration with Acurio or are part of a government department, in accordance with privacy laws
Private health insurance companies and Medicare Australia.
Other parties that you grant permission to receive your information, including relatives, close friends and carers
Anyone to whom we are required by law to disclose your personal information to, and The My Health Record (unless you have opted out).
We may also use your information:
To contact you for feedback about your experience, so we can continue to improve the quality and safety of our service
For accounting, billing or debt recovery
Occasionally, it is a requirement for us to share information about you without your consent. By law, we are required to provide your information to:
Child protection agencies if there are concerns about the safety, welfare or wellbeing of a child or young person
Police if we learn about a serious crime, this includes assault, domestic violence or abuse
Government agencies for statutory reporting purposes, such as to report a notifiable disease. This information is used to warn the community about the spread of infection and disease
The court if ordered by subpoena
Should we be required to share your information under these conditions, we will only share the information that is needed.
You may request access to your medical record and personal information by making a written application in accordance with the Health Records Information Act. A fee may be applicable for this. If authorisation is for a third party to access your information, then a letter of authority and confirmation of identity will be required prior to release. If there is any information in your record that you believe is incorrect you may request an amendment and this should be in writing. In the instance that ACURIO does not agree with the amendment then you will be notified in writing. However, you may make a statement of the requested change and this will be kept with your medical record. In some circumstances access to your medical record may be declined however, this would be in accordance with relevant legislation and you would receive a written response.
If you have any questions or concerns about your medical record, how your information is stored, shared, or have a complaint relating to privacy, please contact the relevant contact at the site listed below.
If a response is not received within 30 days or you are dissatisfied with the response then please lodge a complaint directly in writing with OAIC. For further information or to access the online Privacy Complaint Form please refer to www.oaic.gov.au The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001.
Tel: 1300 363 992.
Email: enquiries@oaic.gov.au
Privacy Officer Contact Details
ACURIO Health Group
Acurio Services Pty Ltd
Level 7, 134 William Street, Woolloomooloo
NSW 2011
Contact: Scott Fowler – Privacy Officer
Email: scott.fowler@acurio.com.au
