Privacy Policy
1. About This Policy
Otway Heart Cardiology Services ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting the privacy of all personal information collected in the course of providing cardiac diagnostic services. As a health service provider, we are bound by the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), regardless of our annual turnover.
This policy explains how we collect, use, store, disclose and protect your personal and health information.
2. What Information We Collect
We may collect the following types of personal information:
- Your name, date of birth, address, phone number and email address
- Medicare number and private health insurance details
- Health information including referral letters, diagnostic test results, medical history and clinical notes
- Your referring doctor's details
- Information you provide when contacting us by phone, email or through our website
3. How We Collect Information
We collect personal information directly from you, from your referring doctor or specialist, and from diagnostic tests we perform. We may also receive information from other health service providers involved in your care.
If you visit our website, we may collect non-identifying information such as your browser type, operating system and pages visited, through standard web server logs.
4. Why We Collect Information
We collect and use your personal information to:
- Provide cardiac diagnostic services and generate clinical reports
- Communicate with your referring doctor about your test results
- Schedule and manage your appointments
- Process Medicare and private health insurance claims
- Comply with legal and regulatory obligations, including medical record-keeping requirements
- Improve our services and respond to your enquiries
5. How We Store and Protect Information
We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. Your health records are stored securely in accordance with applicable health records legislation.
Electronic records are protected by password access, encryption where appropriate, and regular security updates. Physical records are stored in locked, secure locations at our practice.
6. Who We Share Information With
We may share your personal and health information with:
- Your referring doctor or specialist, to communicate test results
- Other health service providers directly involved in your care, with your consent
- Medicare and private health insurers, for billing and claims processing
- Pathology or diagnostic services, if further testing is required
- Government authorities, where required by law (e.g. mandatory reporting obligations)
We will not sell, rent or disclose your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.
7. Accessing and Correcting Your Information
You have the right to request access to your personal information held by us, and to request corrections if the information is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date. To make a request, please contact our practice.
We will respond to access requests within 30 days. In some circumstances, we may refuse access in accordance with the exceptions permitted under the APPs, and we will provide you with reasons if this occurs.
8. Complaints
If you believe we have breached the Australian Privacy Principles, you may lodge a complaint with our practice. We will investigate your complaint and respond within 30 days.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.
9. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this privacy policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us:
Otway Heart Cardiology Services
28 Hart Street, Colac VIC 3250
Phone: 0474 771 927
Email: admin@otwayheart.com.au