Privacy Policy
Current as of: 1st June 2023
Introduction
This privacy policy is to provide information to you, our client, on how your personal information (which includes your, and/or your child’s, 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 client of Dietitian For Kids, you provide consent for the Dietitian to access and use your personal information so they can provide you with the best possible nutrition and health care. Only 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?
Dietitian For Kids will need to collect your personal information to provide nutrition services to you. Our main purpose for collecting, using, holding and sharing your personal information is to manage your health from a nutrition perspective. We also use it for directly related business activities, such as financial claims and payments, practice audits and accreditation, and business processes.
What personal information do we collect?
The information we will collect about you includes your:
- names, date of birth, addresses, contact details
- medical information including medical history, medications, allergies, social history, family history and risk factors
- Medicare number (where available) for identification and claiming purposes
- healthcare identifiers
- Names and contact details of other healthcare practitioners involved in your care
- NDIS registration number if applicable
Dealing with us anonymously
You have the right to deal with us anonymously or under a pseudonym, unless it is impracticable for us to do so or unless we are required or authorised by law to only deal with identified individuals.
How do we collect your personal information?
Dietitian For Kids may collect your personal information in several different ways.
- When you make your first appointment our practice staff will collect your personal and demographic information via your registration.
- During the course of providing nutrition services, we may collect further personal information.
- We may also collect your personal information when you visit our website, send us an email or SMS, telephone us, make an online appointment or communicate with us using social media.
- 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 providers, such as specialists, allied health professionals, hospitals, community health services and pathology and diagnostic imaging services
- your health fund, Medicare, NDIS, or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (as necessary).
When, why and with whom do we share your personal information?
We will not share your personal information without your consent. We may request to 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 public health or safety, or it is impractical to obtain the patient’s consent
- to assist in locating a missing person
- to establish, exercise or defend an equitable claim
- 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 who need to access your information will be able to do so. Other than in the course of providing nutrition services or as otherwise described in this policy, Dietitian For Kids will not share personal information with any third party without your consent.
We will not share your personal information with anyone outside Australia (unless under exceptional circumstances that are permitted by law) without your consent.
Dietitian For Kids 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 of direct marketing at any time by notifying Dietitian For Kids in writing.
How do we store and protect your personal information?
Your personal information may be stored at our practice in various forms.
Dietitian For Kids uses software that stores your record electronically. This electronic record may include referral information, blood tests and other reports or photographs etc. This electronic information is double password protected.
How can you access and correct your personal information at our practice?
You have the right to request access to, and correction of, your personal information.
Dietitian For Kids acknowledges clients may request access to their records. We require you to put this request in writing addressed to Dr Fiona Arrowsmith via email fiona@dietitianforkids.com.au and we will respond in a reasonable timeframe, usually within 10 working days.
Dietitian For Kids 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 that your personal information held by our practice is correct and current. You may also request that we correct or update your information, and you should make such requests in writing to Dr Fiona Arrowsmith via email fiona@dietitianforkids.com.au.
How can you lodge a privacy-related complaint, and how will the complaint be handled at our practice?
Dietitian For Kids take complaints and concerns regarding privacy seriously. You should express any privacy concerns you may have in writing to Dr Fiona Arrowsmith via email fiona@dietitianforkids.com.au or via phone 0493-514-574. We will then attempt to resolve it in accordance with our resolution procedure within a reasonable timeframe, usually 30 days.
Alternatively, you may contact:
Health Consumers NSW
www.hcnsw.org.au
Email: info@hcnsw.org.au
Phone: (02) 9986 1082
Postal Address: Suite F/ LG Floor, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
Policy review statement
This policy is reviewed at least annually and will be updated and advised on our website www.dietitianforkids.com.au