Privacy, Confidentiality, Information Collection Policy
At Developmental Paediatrics Pty Ltd, ACN 613 953 101, we are committed to protecting the privacy of patient information and to handling personal information obtained in a manner that adheres to the Privacy Act 1988, the Privacy Amendment Act 2012, The Australian Privacy Principles and relevant New South Wales privacy legislation.
This privacy statement explains how we collect, use and disclose information of the young person and their families, how you may access that information and how you may seek the correction of any information. It also explains how to address any concerns you have about information held by Developmental Paediatrics Pty Ltd.
Principles of Confidentiality
All identifying information provided by a young person who is a client of Developmental Paediatrics Pty Ltd, the young person’s parents/carers, or related parties are recorded in a file in the young person’s name. The purpose of this is to retain a record that can assist the care, diagnosis, treatment and any relevant administration tasks now and if necessary, in the future. Information is stored at least until the young person is 25 years of age. Other professionals within the clinic, as part of their working agreement with Developmental Paediatrics Pty Ltd have agreed to not access or obtain any information on any clients with whom they are not involved with the care of or have a professional responsibility to.
Exceptions to Confidentiality
There are exceptions to the general principles of confidentiality. Personal information may need to be disclosed to other professionals. Some situations include but are not limited to:
- Where other professionals outside the practice are involved in the care of the young person (only once the parent/carer signs a release of information form issued by Developmental Paediatrics).
- Where one of the team members of Developmental Paediatrics Pty Ltd is told, or has reason to believe, that a young person under 16 years of age is being harmed by someone else or has been harmed in the past. Harm includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, neglect, and domestic violence. In these cases, Community Services, must, under NSW law, be notified of this and it may also be necessary to disclose this to parents/carers.
- Where the team member of Developmental Paediatrics Pty Ltd believes that the young person is at risk of seriously harming themselves or someone else, this information may also be disclosed to the parents/carers.
- Where the team member is receiving supervision or professional advice from a qualified colleague to assist in the treatment of the young person and their family to provide the best clinical care (under these circumstances, the identity of the young person and their family will remain anonymous and confidential).
- Where provision to the court or another person of specific information or the entire or part of a file is required under subpoena, summons or other order of a court.
- Where admission of a serious crime is disclosed.
- Where a young person consents to disclosure of all or part information to another person, who may be a parent/carer, in situations other than the above.
Information Collection and Access
Developmental Paediatrics Pty Ltd clinical staff will only collect information that is necessary and relevant to provide the client and their families with optimal medical cares, assessments and treatment, and to manage our practice.
Administrative staff will only collect and access your personal information that is relevant to their role in your child’s healthcare and only if required. An example of administration staff accessing records would be to answer a query about a referral date or scanning in relevant documents and letters to a clinical file. Like all clinical staff, all administration staff are required to agree and adhere to the Developmental Paediatrics Staff Code of Conduct.
Data Quality and Security
Developmental Paediatrics Pty Ltd will take reasonable steps to ensure that your personal information is accurate, complete, up to date and relevant. For this purpose, our staff may ask you to confirm that your contact detail are correct when you attend a consultation. We request that you let us know if any of the information we hold about you is incorrect or is out of date. Personal information that we hold is protected by:
- Securing our premise.
- Placing passwords and varying access levels on databases to limit access and protect electronic information from unauthorised interference, access, modification and disclosure.
- Providing locked facilities for the storage of physical records.
- Microsoft Azure security infrastructure.
Privacy Concerns
Developmental Paediatrics Pty Ltd takes complaints and concerns about privacy of patients’ personal information seriously. If you have a complaint about the privacy of your personal information, we ask that you contact us in writing. Upon receipt of a complaint we then consider the details and attempt to resolve it in accordance with out complaint handling procedures. If you are dissatisfied with our handling of a complaint or the outcome you may make an application to the Australian Information Commissioner or the Privacy Commissioner:
Australia Information Commissioner
Level 3, 175 Pitt Street, Sydney 2000
Phone: 1300 363 992 or email: enquiries@oaic.gov.au
Changes to this Privacy Policy
Developmental Paediatrics Pty Ltd reserves the right to make amendments to this Privacy Policy at any time. This Privacy Policy was updated on April 24th, 2017.