Patient Confidentiality

Management of Patient personal health information

• Information is collected by independent GPs, health professionals and Mt Martha Village Clinic staff with patient written consent or implied consent.
• All patient information collected shall be used to provide a comprehensive approach to patient care.
• Patients have the right to deal with us anonymously, unless it is impracticable for us to do so or unless we are required or authorised by law to only deal with identified individuals.  In this instance Medicare rebate will not be available.
• Independent GPs may use an AI agent for transcription purposes.  The platform we use fully complies with the Australian Privacy Principles.
• Patient information is collected for accounting and administrative purposes to run our practice and to comply with Medicare requirements.
• Information will be collected in a manner that ensures protection of privacy and confidentiality.
• Patients are asked to advise us if their details alter so that our information is accurate and up to date.
• No information that identifies the patient will be released to a third party not involved in the patient’s health care without their written consent.
• De-identified information may be used for research & quality assurance activities and professional development to improve individual & community health. Patient consent and option to opt out will be sought for specific programs relating to the individual’s health. 
• There may be disclosure to comply with any legislative or regulatory requirements such as notifiable diseases.
• There may be circumstances where the doctor will be obliged to release details of a patient’s personal health information without their express consent – this may be the case if the situation was an extreme emergency, or if legally compelled to do so.
• Mt Martha Village Clinic operates a fully computerized medical records system. All independent doctors and employees have individual passwords to allow different levels of access. Information is backed up daily, the system is checked and 2 restores are done and tested per annum and passwords changed regularly.  You will be notified of any serious breach of your personal information.
• Administrative staff with access to your personal health information have all signed confidentiality agreements.
• Some medical information is downloaded directly into your medical record eg pathology results and specialist letters. These are encrypted to ensure confidentiality.
• Your information may be used to send you reminder letters or text messages regarding your health care and management.
• When patients move to another medical practice, we will support continuity of care by preparing a relevant summary of their medical records. When we receive a form signed by the patient authorizing transfer of medical information, we will post by registered mail this summary to their new GP. There is no charge for a health summary and a fee will be incurred for any further information sought. 
• Patients may wish to directly access partial or full details of their health records, please see receptionist for form to fill in regarding the process.  There is a fee for this service with no Medicare rebate.

For more information please see our Privacy Policy or contact the Privacy Officer at Mt Martha Village Clinic

• • • email: confidential@mmvc.com.au
    • tel: 03 5974 3500
    • address: Suite 1, 2 Langrigg Ave, Mt Martha 3934