Integro Health is committed to protecting your privacy in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988, including the Australian Privacy Principles. This policy explains how we collect, use, disclose and store your personal information.

Why does Integro Health need to collect, record, and disclose personal information?

To provide a service to you we need to collect, record, and disclose personal information about you. This information is essential for the assessment and treatment provided and allows routine practice administration.

By engaging with our services, you provide implied consent for the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information for the purposes outlined in this policy. In some cases, we may seek your express consent before using or sharing sensitive information.

We take all reasonable steps to keep personal information secure and private. This includes physical security, computer security, communications security, and personnel security.

What information will Integro Health collect?

We will collect, record, and disclose information that is necessary to advise and treat you properly. Such necessary information may include: Medical and family medical history; Information gathered during consultations; Treatment plans; Ethnicity; Contact details; Medicare/private health fund details; Genetic information; and Billing/account details.

How will Integro Health collect this information?

Our practice staff will normally collect information directly from you. There may be occasions when we need to obtain information from other sources, for example: Other medical practitioners or health care providers, such as doctors or allied health; and Hospitals and Day Surgery Units. Both our practice staff and clinical practitioners may participate in the collection of this information. In emergencies, we may need to collect personal information from relatives or other sources where we are unable to obtain your prior express consent.

How will Integro Health staff use and disclose my information?

Information shared in the context of this service will be kept confidential. We will only ever use and disclose information necessary to provide health care and manage the practice. Practice staff will use and disclose your information for routine purposes such as: Account keeping and billing purposes; The management of our practice; To meet our obligations of notification to our medical defence organisations or insurers; To fulfil our requirements of reporting progress to the referring GP for treatment under a Mental Health Treatment Plan; Provision of recall or reminder letters.

In most cases, any sharing of information will only occur with your consent such as when: Providing a report or information to another professional or agency (for example, school, lawyer, insurer); Discussing your progress with others involved in your care, with your consent; Sharing information with funding body or agency contributing to the cost of services.

Clinicians are also required to consult with and receive supervision from colleagues from time to time. If your, or your child’s, information is discussed in this context, all care is taken to de-identify the information so that it remains anonymous.

Practice staff may be required to disclose your information without your express consent: To prevent or lessen a serious threat to an individual’s life, health or safety; Where legally required to do so, such as producing records to court, or mandatory reporting of child abuse. Where possible, your therapist will discuss any such disclosure with you in advance.

Your information may be stored or managed using third-party service providers (for example, cloud services). Where this occurs, Integro Health ensures that these providers are compliant with Australian Privacy Standards. We retain health records in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. When no longer required, personal information is securely destroyed or de-identified.

Who has access to my information?

A limited amount of your personal information is accessible to administration staff to use and disclose for routine purposes such as scheduling appointments, account keeping and billing purposes, processing referrals, and transmitting clinical correspondence. Clinical records are accessed by clinical staff when it is essential for your care.

What if I do not wish to provide personal information?

If you do not wish for your personal information to be collected as outlined, Integro Health may not be able to provide services to you. If you are concerned about providing personal information, please speak with the practice manager.

Can I access my health records?

You are entitled to access your own health records at any time convenient to both yourself and the practice. Access may be denied if: It poses a serious threat to your life or someone else’s health or safety; There is a legal impediment to access; The access would unreasonably impact on the privacy of another; Your request is frivolous; The information relates to anticipated or actual legal proceedings, and you would not be entitled to access the information in those proceedings; In the interests of national security. We ask that, where possible, your request be in writing. We may impose a charge for photocopying or for staff time involved in processing your request. Where you dispute the accuracy of your information, you are entitled to correct that information.

How can I make a complaint about privacy?

If you have any concerns or wish to make a complaint about how your information is handled, please contact our practice manager. If you are not satisfied with your response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at www.oaic.gov.au