Please read about our patient practices at Noosa Outlook Medical Centre.
Our practice collects personal health information and safeguards its confidentiality and privacy in accordance with National Privacy Principles. Your personal details and medical records are confidential. Information about a patient’s personal, medical and family health history is needed to provide accurate medical diagnoses, appropriate treatment and billing purposes. In general it is the policy of this practice that a patient’s health information will not be used for any other purposes, other than the primary purpose, without their consent. There are circumstances where a medical practitioner is legally bound to disclose personal information without patient consent.
The Doctor (or Practice) owns the record (and copyright) created in that Practice, including specialist reports. A patient has a right to access their information. They may ask to view the information or ask for a copy of a part or of the entire record. While not required to give reasons for their request, a patient may be asked to clarify the scope of the request. There are some circumstances in which access may be denied but in such an event, the patient will be advised of the reason.
For example, access could be denied where:
Written consent is needed for release medical record details.
Deceased patients medical records need written consent from next of kin or executor of the will before they can be released. Proof of identity will be required.
Patients who would like a health summary sent to another health practitioner, need to apply with a written signature (free of charge)
A full set of medical notes will incur a fee (minimum $50, *dependent on size of file- may be more)
By law, doctors are sometimes required to disclose information for public interest reasons, eg mandatory reporting of some communicable diseases.
It may be necessary to disclose information about a patient to fulfil a medical indemnity insurance obligation.
Provision of information to Medicare or private health funds, if relevant, for billing and medical rebate purposes.
We are registered with the Australian Government Interpreting Service should you require this.
If you have a problem, we would like to hear about it directly (and not for the first time via Social Media!!!). Please feel free to talk to us about it, or write a letter if you prefer. We take your concerns or suggestions seriously. If you wish to take the matter outside the practice, you can contact:
Health Rights Commission, GPO Box 3089, Brisbane QLD 4001 Ph: 07 3234 0172
This practice has a no smoking policy. Please ask your doctor if you would like some help to quit.
